Skip to main content

Trees and contaminated soil are removed following gas pipeline spill in Skagit County

Enlarge Icon
Slideshow Icon1 of 3Crews with the Washington State Department of Ecology removed trees and contaminated soil along Hill Ditch in Skagit County on Dec. 27, 2023, following a gasoline pipe spill in the area.
Credit: Washington Department of Ecology

Crews have begun removing trees and contaminated soil in Skagit County, following a gasoline line spill in Conway earlier this month.

Approximately 25,000 gallons were released from a BP-owned pipeline on Dec. 10 after a pressure check valve failed. The pollution flowed into an irrigation canal called Hill Ditch. That ditch feeds into Bulson Creek, and that water eventually flows into the Skagit River delta. Response crews deployed 1,600 feet of absorbent boom to catch any spilled gas as far as 2.5 miles downstream.

RELATED: This week’s catch on the Skagit delta — Tasty crabs, toxic soil

Washington's Department of Ecology ran tests and concluded that none of the spill reached local water wells in the area surrounding Hill Ditch. Surface water tests are still underway at 16 sites. Contaminants from the spill were identified along at least one-third of a mile of shoreline.

While local wells appear to be unaffected, so far, damage to the soil and trees along Hill Ditch are another matter. The trees are being removed along the edge of the canal and neighboring farmland. The the soil will then be trucked away. That work is expected to wrap up by the end of the week.

Contaminated soil is being loaded onto trucks and transported to a hazardous waste facility in Arlington, Oregon.

In the wake of the spill, Ecology has found a handful of dead animals — one beaver, a pine siskin bird, a mallard duck, and an American widgeon duck.

Why you can trust KUOW
Close
On Air Shows

Print

Print

Play Audio
 Live Now On KUOW
WHYY's The Pulse
Next: BBC World Service in 16 mins
On Air Shows

Print

Print

Play Audio
Local Newscast
2 mins
Updated 01.09 at 1:47am
The Latest
View All
    Play Audio