Dishonorable Discharge
Published on May 30, 2008
Spill from notorious Canadian polluter Teck Cominco sends lead and acid into Columbia River.
The Department of Ecology (Ecology) is monitoring potential human and environmental health effects after the Teck Cominco Ltd. lead and zinc refinery in Trail, British Columbia, released more than 1,000 gallons of hydrofluoric acid containing about 2,100 pounds (946 kilograms) of lead into the Columbia River on May 28.*
The Center for Justice has represented the Sierra Club and the
Sierra Club of Canada in recent legal proceedings aimed at forcing Teck Cominco to clean up contamination resulting from past discharges of thousands of tons of toxic “slag” directly into the Columbia.
With regard to the new spill, Ecology is working with British Columbia and other Washington state and local agencies to determine possible effects on public health and the environment. Ecology believes it is unlikely that groundwater wells will be affected because the spill was diluted in the spring high-flow conditions.
“Historically, Washington’s environment has paid the price for pollution released from this facility. We are deeply concerned that this spill could add to that unfortunate legacy,” said Ecology Director Jay Manning. “Teck Cominco should use every available resource to negate the adverse environmental effects from this spill. We will do what we can to minimize the spill’s impact here in Washington to protect Lake Roosevelt and the people who live in the area.”
The spill occurred after a pipe failed at the Teck Cominco facility, located about 12 miles north of the Washington border, and continued for more than four hours starting at about 5 p.m. yesterday. State and local officials did not receive notification of the incident until just before midnight Wednesday.
The Teck Cominco facility has been shut down since about 10 p.m. yesterday to make repairs.
Investigators from British Columbia’s Ministry of Environment have been working with the company compiling data since yesterday and are in transit to the release site to determine the environmental effects of the release material as well as clarifying potential cleanup strategies.
Ecology is working with British Columbia to help:
* Identify the possible extent of contamination and potential human health issues.
* Observe and respond to potential effects on water quality, sediment and wildlife.
* Identify and protect important fish and wildlife habitat areas.
British Columbia investigators are awaiting results of water sampling near Wenata, British Columbia, near the Washington border, and Ecology investigators are taking samples near the Canadian border to help determine the full extent of spill.
Manning expressed appreciation for British Columbia’s Ministry of Environment and its cooperation with Ecology.
*This story was updated in August 2008 after Ecology notified us that the earlier release from the agency (based on information provided by the BC Ministry of the Environment) under-reported, by ten times, the volume of acid solution containing the lead. The amount of lead (946 kilograms) is the same.
Posted May 30th
Sources–Washington Department of Ecology and Center for Justice