OIL SPILL

lippee · 01-29-2001, 10:10 PM

What do you think of the oil spill in the Yaquina river. Also slow response from the emergency response team's. Any long term effect's.?

Fishhead · 01-29-2001, 10:47 PM

From what I read in the paper the spill is up river. It should be contained from reaching the tide water if at all possible! What a shame that that had to happen ....Fishhead Vic

lippee · 01-29-2001, 11:23 PM

Yes the spill was up river, It still traveled down stream who know's how far. What I am concerned with is why it took so long to get the emergency response team's there to start cleaning up. Also the chinook and silver's have already spanwed up there this year, Is the oil in the river going to effect them.

Steve · 01-30-2001, 01:04 AM

Not knowing all the facts, but having been with a Fire Dept. for 17 years and being trained in Haz-Mat. I can make some general comments. 1. Not all Fire Departments are equipted with the materials to retain oil based product, the major release happened at the time of the accident. a large percentage of the product was probably burned at the scene, the number one priority was the accident scene and fire, the driver died there. Haz-Mat specialists probably came from Salem or Corvallis, the Coast Guard probably responded from Newport. So a delayed response was inevitable, not to mention that the Traffic was blocked for miles on both sides of the accident scene. Diesel is easier to clean up than the Bunker Oil that was on the New Carrissa, it will evaporate and will absorb easier...My guess was that in retrospect it would have been more enviornmentally sound to let the fire burn it's self out, but firefighters have a hard time not getting in there and kicking fire butt. Remember most rural fire departments are Volunteers, not paid, but train and study just as hard as the paid personel.

Steve · 01-30-2001, 02:12 AM

I just read the article about the spill in the Oreognian, it appears that the spill is other than heating oil / diesel, it appears heavier and thicker, makes for more clean up, more booms, oil skimmers, cat litter,and oil absorbent pads. The cost will be high. and there will be some damage to the river until it flushes out.

aye fsh · 01-30-2001, 06:37 AM

I drove by the scene about 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sun. and was impressed with the effort taking place. There were multiple booms across the river and plenty of personnel. There was the smell of diesel around the site, but it dissipated not far from there. I was on the water from toledo to south beach and did not see or smell anything that would lead me to believe there was a catastrophic contamination of the estuary. A most unfortunate accident, but it looks like every effort is being made.

------------------
ayefsh,there4ayeam

bajaspecial · 01-30-2001, 07:31 AM

SEEMS to be under control...
http://www.channel6000.com/c6k/news/...29-204403.html

Simon Peter · 01-30-2001, 08:30 AM

I spent 5 months in the Prince William Sound onboard Fort McHenry (LSD-43) as support to Exxon when the Valdez went aground. I can tell you from first hand experience there are two consistant things about oil spills.

1) The liable company will constantly lie about the amount of oil they recovered. Exxon never told the truth - we actually saw the data they trasmitted each day and it did not equate with what was sitting onboard - not even close!

2) The damage is always greater and longer lived than anybody will know. Don't tell me the damage is contained. Who knows what the effect is on a small river like the Yaquina. Right now those redds are getting filled with oil - that doesn't help fish. That kind of damage is hard to estimate. Somebody will post in the paper that it is no "OK" - it won't be.

Sure feel sorry for the young boy who lost his life in the accident. My condolences to the family.

lippee · 01-30-2001, 12:00 PM

Steve
I understand about rural Fire Department's, I am a volunteer firefighter for the crooked river ranch fire dept. I Also belong to the Jefferson county Search & Rescue Team, What I met was that the DEQ&EPA did'nt respond quickly, Seem's like they took there time getting to the scene. Even when it's 2:00 am in the morning. Our Fire Department doe's it all the time.

Pilar · 01-30-2001, 12:05 PM

How in the world do you get that crap out of the river gravel? Doesn't it just sink to the bottom and solidify? The loss of life is unfortunate and my condolences to the surviving family members.

Look for more of this kind of trouble when Shrub looses his oil industry cronies on the Arctic wildlife refuge.

The bend is your friend!

Steve · 01-31-2001, 12:38 AM

Lippee, I can relate to EPA & DEQ being slow, as a firefighter I know you can relate to being first on the scene, and what actions that are taken will set the tone of the response. Like dumping 100,000 gallons of water on the main fire to cool the area until you can foam it down..the oil and water has to go some where......into the soil or into a stream...Like I said it probably would have better to let as much of the oil burn off before putting the fire out. I also was on the Clackamas County SAR / Dive Rescue for over 5 years. Gotta have a lot of respect for Volunteers, Fire Dept. or Working to protect our Fish. (1109)

Steve · 02-03-2001, 11:18 PM

Went by the accident scene today, still some oil floating, several booms still across the river about 30 to 40 workers working hard cleaning, bagging the the oil soaked pads and pompoms... water below the booms appeared sheen free...maybe somebody got lucky....raining like crazy and the rivers are raising...hope for a good flush...