On Sunday,
August 8, 2021, a semi-truck and trailer crashed and overturned into Toppenish Creek
and its associated wetlands off of U.S. Highway 97, approximately 4 miles
south of Toppenish, Yakima County, WA. The site is located within the Yakama
Reservation, as well as in the Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge and a lamprey
rehabilitation area. The truck’s tanks and refrigerated trailer diesel
tank were punctured and discharged oil into the creek and wetlands, and cargo
from the trailer was ejected into the creek and wetlands. The Yakama Tribe, along
with assistance from the Washington Department of Ecology, initially responded
to the spill to remove oil in saddle tanks and conduct booming activities.
On
Tuesday, August 10, the Yakama Tribe contacted EPA Region 10 and requested
assistance in order to continue response and removal activities, such as
removing the truck and it’s continuing threat of discharge of oil, as well as
removing ejected cargo so the creek and wetland can be further assessed and
hidden oil removed. EPA mobilized an OSC to the site, and has opened
the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for issuance of a Pollution Removal Funding
Authorization to the Yakama Tribe to help fund their oil response
activities. EPA is also coordinating with the Tribe and DOI.
