On the evening of 4/24/05. The EPA Phone Duty Officer received a call from ODEQ State On-Scene Coordinator (SOSC) Greenburg relating to a spill/release reported on Beaverton Creek near Millikan Way and 153rd in Beaverton, Oregon. ODEQ had mobilized a contractor to find the source and deploy boom/absorbants.
Beaverton Creek at the spill location, flows through a wetland. The creek is tributary to Rock Creek which flows to the Tualatin River, a navigable waterway. The Tualatin River is tributary to the Willamette River, also a navigable waterway. The surrounding area is a mixed residential and commercial zone, with a large number of feeder creeks and boarding wetland areas. The drainage system has a high wildlife/waterfowl population and Beaverton Creek flows through the Tualatin Hills Nature Park.
4/24/05 - ODEQ contractors installed hard boom and sorbent pads/booms at several locations to contain oil mousse and sheen.
4/25/05 - the SOSC confirmed that the source of the oil is yet undetermined, and had traced the contamination upstream to a stormwater outfall. At 16:00 hours DEQ contacted the City of Beaverton's Public Works department to assist with narrowing down the source of the contamination. The area being drained by this system is approximately one square mile according to the city.
4/26/05 - 09:45 - City of Beaverton (Mel Schultz) reported they were unable to trace the source with the system beyond the outfall.
Passive collection of sheen for a short period until the system clears, followed by removal of absorbents, boom and contaminated debris.
The EPA Phone Duty Officer is working with ODEQ to offer financial assistance to the State to conduct reconnaissance work to confirm the release of oil to navigable waters of the United States. If continued efforts are needed, a Pollution Removal Funding Authorization could be issued.
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