Tests show no spilled fuel in Susitna River

TALKEETNA - Initial lab tests of water samples show no signs that jet fuel spilled at the Gold Creek derailment site has crept into the Susitna River, according to state environmental and railroad officials.

However, Leslie Pearson of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), warned there is still a possibility jet fuel that has seeped into the water table could eventually leak into the river.

The ADEC is becoming frustrated with the Alaska Railroad Corp., Pearson said, because of the corporations slow response when asked for information.

The railroad has said the fuel is contained within the spill area, but they have no proof. In the testing, they have not stepped away from the spill area. Until we get that proof, we will operate under the assumption that it (jet fuel) is still moving, Pearson said.

Workers discovered jet fuel floating on top of pockets of ground water last week after drilling several wells 30 feet below the soil on the east and west side of the train tracks.

A total of six wells had been drilled as of Friday. Environmental officials have asked the railroad to step up drilling activity and convey more drilling rigs to the spill site, Pearson said.

The ADEC is pushing for sentinel wells to be drilled near the Big Susitna River. The agency is recommending one of the two drill rigs at the railroad derailment area be used to drill the smaller wells used to monitor the fuel which has reached the ground water.

We want to know where it is, where its going and how fast, Pearson said.

Recovery personnel have determined a final tally of 120,516 gallons spilled into the environment when the 15 tanker cars and three locomotives careened off the tracks Dec. 22, Pearson said. Officials had estimated a 80,000 to 120,000 gallons spilled at the Gold Creek derailment.

There has been very little jet fuel recovered from the spill site to date.

The 500-gallon vacuum tank system which clean-up crews were counting on to recover fuel accumulating in the wells was unable to adequately remove the fuel from the wells, according to a situation report provided by state environmental agencies.

Recovery pumps specially designed for pumping fuel from wells are being mobilized from Outside and were expected to be in operation by Saturday.

There is apparently an insignificant amount of jet fuel to be removed from the approximately 2,000 cubic yards of contaminated snow hauled from the site. Alaska Pollution Control of Palmer notified the ADEC last week that it appeared there was only a small amount of fuel mixed in with the snow and ice.

Scott Banks, an ARRC spokesman, said Alaska Pollution Control will not attempt to separate the fuel as previously planned because of the minute amount of jet fuel present in the snow.

The ARRC provided an outline of future clean-up plans to environmental agencies on Friday. Included in the outline was a plan to excavate the contaminated soil surrounding the derailment site before spring breakup.