Two more vessels sink, releasing foul-smelling fluid into Hoquiam River

By Dan Hammock The Daily World • October 18, 2018 7:00 am
Kat Bryant | Grays Harbor News Group The Department of Ecology spill team works with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Fish and Wildlife in response to two sunken boats on the Hoquiam River leaking foul-smelling liquid into the river. Witnesses reported a noticeable sheen on the river’s surface coming from sunken vessels, near Al’s Hum-Dinger, where two other boats recently sank.
Kat Bryant | Grays Harbor News Group The Department of Ecology spill team works with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Fish and Wildlife in response to two sunken boats on the Hoquiam River leaking foul-smelling liquid into the river. Witnesses reported a noticeable sheen on the river’s surface coming from sunken vessels, near Al’s Hum-Dinger, where two other boats recently sank.

Two more vessels have sunk in the Hoquiam River near Al’s Hum-Dinger restaurant north of the Riverside Bridge, depositing a noticeable and foul-smelling sheen on the river’s surface.

The Department of Ecology’s spill response team was on the scene shortly after the spill was reported, about 1 p.m., spokeswoman Sandy Howard said.

“One of our first concerns is to contain and control the release,” she said. “If we can’t find the responsible party, we will get a contractor and figure out how to remove” the fluid coming from the boats, likely diesel fuel, but tests on water samples will identify what crews are dealing with, Howard said.

This section of the river has now had four vessels sink in recent months. The mast of one is still visible from the river bank. Wednesday’s sinking involved two vessels, according to Howard, which were reportedly tied together. “When one went, it took the other one with it,” she said.

Kat Bryant | Grays Harbor News Group The Department of Ecology spill team works with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Fish and Wildlife in response to two sunken boats on the Hoquiam River leaking foul-smelling liquid into the river. Witnesses reported a noticeable sheen on the river’s surface coming from sunken vessels, near Al’s Hum-Dinger, where two other boats recently sank.

Kat Bryant | Grays Harbor News Group The Department of Ecology spill team works with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Fish and Wildlife in response to two sunken boats on the Hoquiam River leaking foul-smelling liquid into the river. Witnesses reported a noticeable sheen on the river’s surface coming from sunken vessels, near Al’s Hum-Dinger, where two other boats recently sank.

Kat Bryant | Grays Harbor News Group The Department of Ecology spill team works with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Fish and Wildlife in response to two sunken boats on the Hoquiam River leaking foul-smelling liquid into the river. Witnesses reported a noticeable sheen on the river’s surface coming from sunken vessels, near Al’s Hum-Dinger, where two other boats recently sank.

Kat Bryant | Grays Harbor News Group The Department of Ecology spill team works with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Fish and Wildlife in response to two sunken boats on the Hoquiam River leaking foul-smelling liquid into the river. Witnesses reported a noticeable sheen on the river’s surface coming from sunken vessels, near Al’s Hum-Dinger, where two other boats recently sank.