On November 3rd, 2006, an Puget Sound Energy (PSE) generator was mechanically overfilled by three 12,000 gallon underground storage tanks (UST’s). At first estimate, 18,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled onto the generator pad and downhill towards a drainage ditch which flows under Crystal Mountain Boulevard to Silver Creek. The ditch was mostly clogged and the diesel fuel spilled down an access road close to ¼ of a mile in distance.
The majority of the fuel is believed to be trapped in the area of the generator pad. Temporary measures have been put in place to minimize the fuel moving offsite towards silver creek via drainage ditches. This has been accomplished with a series of trenches dug with absorbent materials placed in them and also an underflow dam constructed of PVC pipes and an earthen dam.
On Saturday, November 4th, a sheen was spotted on the nearby Silver Creek, which feeds the White River approximately 6 miles down stream from the Crystal Mountain Ski Resort.
