Spokane Riverkeeper has been monitoring the response to an oil slick that was first reported to us on December 26, 2023, near the Argonne bridge. The incident was immediately reported to Washington Department of Ecology (WDOE) for investigation and clean up. No oil was seen above the Argonne Bridge area. We quickly concluded the oil was likely from Inland Empire Paper, who’s discharge pipe is located just upstream of the Argonne Bridge. We now know our conclusions were correct and this has been reported as a mineral lubricant oil from a cooling equipment failure. Here are the facts as we know so far and what we are doing about it.
Timeline of Events
Crews working to place a boom on Long Lake Dam, December 27, 2023.
Reports were first received midday on December 26, from Argonne bridge. Within 24 hours, the oil was also reported in Riverfront Park. WDOE implemented spill response procedures to begin to contain the substance, and placed absorbent booms across the the dams along the river, as far down as Long Lake dam. In addition, Ecology collected samples of the substance to try to identify it, and the true threat level posed. At that time, the Department did not identify a source or suspected culprit for the pollutant.
On December 27, Water Protector Katelyn Scott patrolled the lower section of the river (Nine Mile Falls Dam through Little Falls Dam) and confirmed the oil stretched from above the Nine Mile Falls Dam to approximately half a mile past the confluence of the Little Spokane.
By December 28th Waterkeeper Jule Schultz was able to confirm that there was no more oil present at the Argonne bridge, although small specks of oil were present in IEP discharge plume, where it was initially reported. At this time, Ecology informed us the lightweight oil was not sticking to the absorbent booms that were present at many of the dams, and continued to insist this was non-toxic, yet unidentifiable.
January 2, 2024 at the Tum Tum fishing eddy on Lake Spokane. Oil visible with boom seen at the bottom of the eddy.
Still, as we entered 2024, we tracked the oil down into Long Lake. Additional booms were placed along the river, along large eddies, including the fishing eddy just downriver from Tum Tum and just above the boat launch on Highway 291. Because of the lightweight nature of this oil, it continues to move downstream, including through the Little Falls Dam.
Ecology has now identified that this is mineral oil from Inland Empire Paper’s facility, though still has not provided the test results showing what this mineral oil contains and could not identify what was even tested for. Ecology is using a contractor to use a combination of soft and hard booms, as well as skimming operations to remove the oil from the river.
Ecology has called this the “Spokane River Sheen” which seems to imply they think this is a small amount of oil. At the peak of this incident, the “sheen” stretched from downtown to approximately half a mile downstream of the Little Spokane confluence. As of Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, Ecology reported that 738 gallons of mineral lubricant oil has been recovered from the Spokane River. Oil continues to travel downriver, and has now been reported near Little Falls Dam as well. Though Ecology and Inland Empire Paper insist this oil is non-toxic, without clear data and information identifying this substance, we still cannot be sure of its toxicity or harmfulness.
Continuing to Investigate
Spokane Riverkeeper continues to seek answers from Ecology and Inland Empire Paper as to what caused this spill and how the oil reached the river. Inland Empire Paper does have a permit to discharge wastewater into the river, with strict regulations on waste within those discharge waters. Oil in particular is not a listed pollutant with an effluent limit in their permit. Oil discharges of any kind are unlawful in Washington. RCW 90.56.320. Inland Empire Paper is under strict requirements to immediately report an oil spill of any kind, which did not seem to occur here. Inland Empire Paper also has a detailed spill response plan stating the facility has multiple levels of containment and two water clarifiers that they say makes it “highly unlikely” oil will reach the Spokane River. This plan was just established in February of 2023, so presumably all of the measures in place in that plan for this lubrication oil failed.
Spokane Riverkeeper believes that Inland Empire Paper should be held accountable for this incident to the fullest extent possible. In addition, Inland Empire Paper Company should be assessed a civil penalty under RCW 90.56.360 and 90.48.366. These penalties go to the Coastal Protection Fund, managed by Ecology, to support projects that restore and enhance the environment.
Though this oil is reportedly non-toxic, it is still potentially harmful. The oil may still coat shorelines, plants, and animals, and persist in the environment for one to two years. “Focus on Environmental Harm from Oil Spills”, WDOE, Publication 10-08-001, Sept. 2019. Mineral lubrication oils have been known to carry PCBs, and can have incomplete biodegradability, meaning even the “biodegradable” oils don’t break down all the way.
From the get-go, Inland Empire Paper skirted responsibility and failed to have the necessary prevention systems in place to prevent this large spill. Had concerned citizens not reported this incident at its source, it is extremely possible that the oil would have spread far and wide without any ability to contain it. Inland Empire Paper was only identified after Ecology testing confirmed the type of oil on the water. The Company failed to have appropriate measures in place to detect this type of spill, or they failed to comply with their spill plan and violated their permit by illicitly discharging oil. Ecology must hold Inland Empire Paper accountable for these failures.
Share Your Oil Observations!
Any observations of this oil moving downstream or collecting along the shore can be helpful for assessing damages and ensuring a thorough clean up is done. If you saw the oil on the river after December 26, or still see any signs of it, send us your observations to help us assess this situation. You can email your observations, photos, and/or videos to us at [email protected]. In your written observations, please try to include the date of when you saw the oil, what areas/shorelines you observed, any photos you may have taken of the incident, and any negative impacts on vegetation or wildlife. You can also use this diagram to help describe how much oil you saw on the surface:
You are always welcome to share your river observations and concerns with the Spokane Riverkeeper! Citizen reports like yours could help identify major pollution problems, like this oil spill, affecting our river. We just ask that you please do not trespass to collect photos or observations. Find more information about Reporting Pollution on our website at: https://www.spokaneriverkeeper.org/report-pollution-1