News Release
| Release Number: | 04-035 |
| Dated: | 2/27/2004 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
> > Portland, Ore. - Maintenance personnel at Bonneville Lock and Dam have reported an oil leak from a submerged gearbox today, resulting in the discharge of less than 2 ounces of oil into the Columbia River, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today.
The gearbox operates a submersible screen, which helps keep juvenile salmon and steelhead from coming into contact with operating turbines within the powerhouse.
Dam officials noticed a small sheen on the upstream side of the second powerhouse at 8:50 a.m. today. After determining the source of the oil was from the gearbox, the Corps notified federal and state authorities at 10:50 a.m., reporting a maximum potential discharge of one-tenth of a gallon.
The oil is contained entirely within a gate slot on the upstream side of the dam and absorbent materials are being used to soak up the oil. No sheen has been detected either upstream or downstream of the dam.
Maintenance crews have removed the gearbox and isolated it away from the river. Crews have inspected the gearbox and determined the actual amount of the leak to be less than a few ounces.