On July 9, 2009 at 0315, the “New Dawn” barge operated by Tidewater Barge Lines (TBL or RP) ran aground on a reportedly uncharted sand bar near the mouth of the Hood River on the Columbia River, near river mile 169.
The “New Dawn” was being pushed up-river to Pasco, Washington by the river tug “The Chief” while carrying a cargo of 25,000 barrels (bbls; 1,050,000 gallons) of gasoline. The “New Dawn” is a double hull design, and neither hull has been reported breached. No release has occurred, and inspection of barge (New Dawn) by the U.S. Coast Guard and private marine chemists have found that the hulls are not leaking and maintain their integrity.
River mile 169 is between Bonneville Dam and The Dalles Dam projects operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The intervening segment of the Columbia River is also known as Lake Bonneville or Bonneville Pool.
An empty barge (New Vision) is enroute from up river and will arrive in morning to participate in lightering (removal of fuel) operations to remove enough fuel to hopefully re-float vessel on the morning of July 10.
EPA is working in Unified Command with the Oregon Department of Environment (ODEQ), Washington Department of Ecology, Tidewater, as well as other federal and local agencies to ensure that operations to mitigate the situation are successful and will be protective of the public safety and the environment.
