News Release
| Release Number: | 02-017 |
| Dated: | 2/4/2002 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is taking quick steps to assure compliance with environmental regulations following releases of small amounts of oil into the Columbia River from Bonneville Lock and Dam.
Foss Environmental of Portland, Ore., is currently on site to clean up a sheen that was noticed in the unused original navigation lock and along the shoreline immediately downstream of powerhouse one on the Oregon side of the project. Foss has deployed oil-absorbent pads to clean up the area and contain any new materials that may enter the area in the future. It is suspected the sheen is from the oil-water separator in powerhouse one. The sheen was immediately reported to the appropriate state and federal agencies.
On Jan. 3, 2002, a release of about 10 gallons of oil from powerhouse two was reported, in accordance with state and federal spill response regulations. Cleanup was fully coordinated with the Washington Department of Ecology.
Oil sheens originating from either dewatering sumps or oil-water separators have since been noted downstream of both powerhouses.
Oil-water separators work by allowing the oil-water mixture to settle and separate. Since oil is lighter than water, the oil rises to the surface of the tank. The clean water is then drained from the bottom of the tank and released into the river. The tanks are used to capture inadvertent spills within the powerhouses, thus averting environmental problems.
Sumps are used to temporarily store water removed from turbine scroll cases before workers can conduct inspection or repairs. Water put into the sumps is generally clean since the water is essentially coming directly out of the river, but can contain trace amounts of oil.
Representatives of both the WDOE and the ODEQ visited Bonneville Lock and Dam Tuesday, to look over the existing equipment and work with the Corps to assure future compliance. They have asked the Corps to demonstrate that the oil-water separating equipment is working properly. The Corps will need to remove the oil and water currently in the oil-water separators and sump, removing all oil residues before running clean water through the equipment. The Corps will then test the water moving into and through the separator to determine the effectiveness of the equipment.
The oil and water removed from the separators and sump will be handled and disposed of according to state and federal standards.
The Corps will submit its proposed work plan to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Washington Department of Ecology before work on the equipment begins.