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Joint Information Center
Bellingham, Washington

Whatcom Creek Incident
Final Fact Sheet #17
July 1, 1999
5:00 p.m.

*denotes new information since last fact sheet

For more information, contact
Joint Information Center 360-676-6681

Insurance claims: 800-451-4527

Date of Incident: 6/10/99 Time of Incident: Approximately 4:25 p.m.

The response effort continues to evolve from an emergency phase to an investigative, assessment and clean-up phase with safety as the top priority. The response is being managed by a unified command involving federal, state and local officials, and representatives of Olympic Pipe Line Company.

The Emergency Operations Center/Joint Information Center will close today, July 1 at 6 p.m. The center will be replaced by a project office to conduct cleanup work. Contacts for more information on the restoration and cleanup activities are: Clare Fogelsong, City of Bellingham, Environmental Resources (360-676-6850); Joan Pelley, Washington Department of Ecology, Bellingham Field Office (360-738-6247); Jeff McGowan, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (360-466-4345, ext. 253).

*The ruptured section of the pipeline was removed yesterday. The National Transportation Safety Board secured it and will transport it to a federal lab in Washington, D.C. for testing.

* Another section south of the ruptured site will be removed in the near future.

*For the safety of the public and environment, the federal, state, and local agencies involved in the site cleanup and restoration are urging people to stay away from the incident site and not enter the area. The upper part of Whatcom Park will be reopened on July 3, when the city of Bellingham will host site tours to the burned area. The city will provide further information.

The Joint Restoration Committee approved the Emergency Restoration Plan for Whatcom Creek and Whatcom Falls Park. The plan focuses primarily on surface erosion and riparian vegetation. The committee deleted some activities proposed in the plan, which would have been too invasive and therefore pose a threat for causing more environmental damage during restoration work. As the restoration work progresses, appropriate adjustments to the plan may be made.

Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife staff sited fish below the smolt trap at the edge of the burned-out area of the incident site. Staff reported seeing ten fish, this is the highest count since the June 10 incident.

National Transportation and Safety Board crews in a June 28, 1999, media briefing reported that Olympic Pipe Line Company crews uncovered the ruptured area of the petroleum pipe. All inquiries of the incident investigation should be made to the board at (202) 314-6100.

Crews continue to recover more refined petroleum product from the ruptured pipe. As of Monday, June 28, crews recovered 196 gallons of petroleum product for an approximate 3-day period from Whatcom and Hanna Creeks. That is up from the 4 to 20 gallons per day, which workers were previously recovering. As of June 28, crews have recovered about 1,100 gallons of product from the two creeks.

Sunday, June 27, crews completed installing two alternate water pipeline routes, which supply approximately one-third of the city's drinking water.

Expenses incurred by the recovery effort, as of today are estimated at $3.5 million.

Air space restrictions over the site, 1,000 feet minimum with a one-half mile radius, have been extended until further notice.

A connection to the Lakeway Drive water main was completed Wednesday, June 23. It required trenching across Lakeway Drive in the vicinity of Bayview Cemetery entrance.

Assess the need for free product recovery techniques adjacent to Hannah Creek near the pipeline rupture site to minimize migration of product into Whatcom Creek.

A temporary hydrant is installed at the water treatment plant to maintain reliable water supply for the fire department.

A second underflow dam has been built at Hannah Creek. Skimmers have proven extremely efficient at removing gasoline from the creeks.

Mobile labs are on site conducting soil vapor and water analysis.

The Bellingham Fire Department has created a grief support website for the community at www.supportofficer.com.

Digital photos of the incident site have been posted on the Whatcom County website at www.co.whatcom.wa.us.

Work continues to execute a water sampling plan to determine the extent of possible exposure to natural resources in Whatcom Creek and Bellingham Bay. Shoreline and stream assessment and sampling continue to determine the extent of contamination and erosion potential of the shoreline. Work is continuing to determine the impact to fish and wildlife.

Gasoline is continuing to seep from a small spot on the hillside into Whatcom Creek near the water treatment plant. It is being contained using absorbent pads, as well as booms. Skimmer operations continue. Water sampling continues at the seep site as well.

Maintain and implement waste management plan.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Department of Ecology are on site.

Olympic Pipe Line Company asks that individuals or businesses who feel they have been affected by the release call: 800-451-4527.

Those in need of counseling services should contact the Red Cross at 360-733-3290.

Incident background: Breach of 16-inch-diameter gasoline pipeline adjacent to the City of Bellingham Water Treatment Facility in Whatcom Falls Park. Significant amount of gasoline released downstream and ignited.

At the height of the incident, approximately 200 emergency responders and volunteers were on scene. Key objectives of the response are safety of the responders and public, and determining the extent and size of the contaminated area.

Three fatalities resulting from the explosion and fire. There have been no injuries to emergency responders. The fire destroyed one single-family residence.

Responders and agencies onsite include: Whatcom County Sheriff's Office, Whatcom County Search and Rescue, Bellingham Mountain Rescue, City of Bellingham Public Works Department, City of Bellingham, Washington State Department of Ecology, Washington State Patrol, U.S. EPA Region 10, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, Whatcom County Specialized Emergency Response Program (SERP) Team, Tosco and Arco refineries, Whatcom County Fire Protection Districts 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9, Bellingham Fire and Police departments, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Whatcom County Critical Incident Stress Management Team, Olympic Pipe Line Company, Equiva Services LLC, Washington DOT, Whatcom Transit Authority, Clean Sound Cooperative, Cascade Ambulance Service, Inc.,Whatcom County Division of Emergency Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Spill Response Corporation, National Marine Fisheries Service, Support Officers, Whatcom Dispatch Center, National Transportation Safety Board, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Pipeline Safety, Washington Department of Natural Resources and Transmountain Oil Pipeline Company.

Future news briefings will be scheduled as additional information warrants.

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