US barge company Tidewater Barge Lines, Inc. has been fined $18,000 for spilling 40,000 gallons of liquid urea ammonium nitrate into the Snake and Columbia rivers. An investigation by the Washington Department of Ecology found that two steel tank barges owned and operated by the company were not properly maintained, causing the liquid fertilizer to spill into the rivers during three separate incidents in April 2017.
The first spill occurred between April 11-21 during transfer and storing operations at the Tidewater Snake River Terminal in Pasco. Investigators determined that 16,639 gallons of urea ammonium nitrate were released by Barge No. 78 due to corrosion of the storage tank.
The second spill occurred between April 20-24 during a transfer operation as the barge transited and moored on the Columbia River near Vancouver. Investigators determined that 22,104 gallons of urea ammonium nitrate were released by Barge No. 74 due to corrosion of the storage tank.
The third spill was reported on April 28 and occurred in the preceding days during transporting operations on the Columbia River near Vancouver. Investigators determined that 950 gallons of urea ammonium nitrate were released by Barge No. 74 due to physical damage to the tank’s side shell.
Rich Doenges, Ecology’s water quality section manager, said:
These spills were preventable through proper maintenance of the barges. While it dispersed rapidly in the Columbia and Snake rivers, urea ammonium nitrate fertilizer can stimulate plant and algae growth in water, which could impact fish and wildlife.
The company is additionally required to take immediate action to prevent future urea ammonium nitrate releases and submit to Ecology an annual comprehensive corrosion management plan for its barges. Detailed cleaning and inspection processes will help ensure the integrity of the steel plates and welds within the barge tanks.
