Gasoline spill into North Santiam River results in $200,000 in penalties
A gasoline company whose truck spilled more than 7,000 gallons of oil onto Highway 22 and into the North Santiam River in 2020 will pay over $200,000 in penalties, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA said in a news release that Space Age Fuel Inc., which is headquartered in Clackamas, agreed to pay a $135,000 fine for violating the Clean Water Act from the accident.
It also agreed to pay a $72,000 fine to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and develop an inclement weather plan.
According to a news release, a tanker truck from the company carrying about 10,700 gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel rolled over on Highway 22 on Feb. 16, 2020.
According to records obtained by the Statesman Journal under a public records request, the driver, Daniel Rodriguez, was cited for driving “too fast under the conditions,” by the state and was fined $265.
Rodriguez lost control of the tanker on a right turn and hit the guardrail in “slush and snow conditions" at about 7:41 a.m. that morning.
About 7,800 gallons of oil were spilled onto the highway. Most of the oil collected into a ditch on the side of the highway and some flowed directly into the North Santiam River. The oil in the ditch seeped into the soil and eventually went into the river.
A 600-foot section of road was replaced at the site of the crash east of Idanha. The road was closed for nearly a week while it was repaired.
According to the EPA, the river had elevated levels of petroleum from Feb. 17 through March 11, 2020, and a sheen was visible on the river for over three months.
The river is home to species of salmon, which are listed on the Endangered Species Act.
The water from the river is used for drinking water for cities including Salem, Stayton, Turner, Gates and Albany.
The EPA said the spill did not impact drinking water.
Space Age started cleanup activities including soil excavation, pumping and water quality monitoring on the day of the spill.
Statesman Journal reporter Zach Urness contributed to this report.
Bill Poehler covers Marion County for the Statesman Journal. Contact him at bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: EPA: 7K gallons of oil spilled on Highway 22, into North Santiam River
