Olympia, WA – September 1, 2004
The state Department of Corrections (DOC) has been fined $22,503 for spilling approximately 6,000 gallons of diesel at McNeil Island Corrections Center in October 2002.
The Department of Ecology (Ecology) issued the penalty because corrections staff did not provide timely notification of the spill and because approximately 2,500 gallons of the diesel polluted a nearby wetland.

About 3,600 gallons of the diesel also spilled into a wastewater treatment plant. Ecology responders measured trace amounts of diesel in the plant’s outfall that discharges into Puget Sound.

The spill was caused by a faulty automatic shut-off switch from an above-ground fuel tank at the prison’s emergency-generator building.

“If the facility’s spill contingency plan had been followed appropriately, the cleanup would have gone quicker and it’s possible that less environmental damage would have occurred,” said Dave Byers, spill-response manager for Ecology. “We’re working with the staff to help improve coordination, and we’ve already seen good progress.”

Along with the penalty, Ecology ordered DOC to update the facility’s oil-spill contingency plan to improve spill-response protocols.

Byers said Ecology representatives are currently satisfied that staff and management at McNeil Island Corrections Center understand Ecology’s concerns. He said subsequent letters and meetings between Ecology and DOC have been productive to clarify roles and responsibilities to improve future spill responsiveness.

Ecology also is ordering DOC to reimburse the state $17,700 for the costs of responding to the spill and monitoring the cleanup.

DOC paid more than $160,000 to clean up the spill site. Under a decision by the state resource damage assessment committee, DOC has set aside an additional $30,000 to restore the 3,900 square feet of wetlands that were harmed by the spill, plus it will enhance an additional 3,900 square feet of wetlands.

DOC has 30 days to apply for relief from the penalty and/or appeal it to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board.

Contact: Sandy Howard
Public Information Manager
360-407-6239

Ecology’s Web site: Washington State Department of Ecology

Ecology’s spills program: Spill Program

Broadcast version
The state Department of Corrections has been fined more than 22-thousand dollars for spilling approximately six-thousand gallons of diesel at McNeil Island Corrections Center in October 2002.

The Department of Ecology issued the penalty because workers at the corrections center did not provide timely notification of the spill – and because about 25-hundred gallons of the diesel polluted a nearby wetland.

Ecology says that since the incident, DOC has improved its protocols.