Agencies, company have removed
most of the oil from Bear Creek
Clean-up work, monitoring
to continue; Public advised to steer clear of work areas
MEDFORD
(April 18, 2022) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Oregon
Department of Environmental Quality, and NEXGEN Logistics, LLC have collected
and disposed of most of the recoverable oil released into and around Bear Creek
during last Tuesday night’s fire at the Pacific Pride Commercial Fuel Station
in Medford.
While
much of the oil that reached the creek and the streambank has been removed,
cleanup work will continue for some time as crews will replace boom and tend to
any possible accumulations. Crews are asking the public to stay at least 50
yards away from oiled areas near Hawthorne Park and the bike path to reduce
stress on wildlife and allow for bird rescue teams to conduct their critical
work.
A
relatively small amount of oil remains in streamside vegetation and soil, and
the agencies have determined that removing these smaller deposits would likely
damage habitat used by nesting ducks and geese, and other animals that use the
vegetation. These deposits will either evaporate or slowly migrate into Bear
Creek during rains and high-water events which will produce visible sheens for
the next several weeks to a few months.
ODFW
biologists have been monitoring the
impacted section of Bear Creek. At this time, no impacts to fish, including
spawning or juvenile salmon and steelhead, have been seen. Biologists continue to look for delayed impacts to
fish and wildlife such as future health, fitness, and reproductive success of
various species.
Some Canada geese and mallard ducks are being cared for by
International Bird Rescue (IBR). Wildlife agencies advise the public to not
approach or pick-up any oiled wildlife but to instead notify IBR at
707-689-3944 to ensure trained wildlife rehabilitation experts help oiled
wildlife.
The agencies and company have
learned that additional petroleum product was released during the fire and estimate
that over 20,000 gallons of various petroleum products -- mostly lube oil --
were released during the incident. There is no estimate of the amount of
product consumed by the fire or released to the area and Bear Creek.
NEXGEN Logistics LLC, operates the Pacific
Pride fuel depot in Medford that burned Tuesday night, is funding the
significant response to the incident, including all wildlife rescue and
recovery efforts.
NOTE:
A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN TRAFFIC CONTROL WILL OCCUR MONDAY EVENING. THE CURRENT
DETOUR WILL BE ELIMINATED AND TRAFFIC WILL BE ABLE TO STAY ON CENTRAL WITH A
SHORT DETOUR AROUND THE BURN AREA ON THE VERY SOUTH END OF CENTRAL.
DRIVERS SHOULD EXPECT HEAVY CONGESTION IN
THE AREA AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE ALTERNATE ROUTES.
THE CITY WILL PROVIDE A MAP OF THE TRAFFIC
UPDATES MONDAY AFTERNOON.
Contacts
USEPA Bill Dunbar
206-245-7452, dunbar.bill@epa.gov
DEQ
Jennifer Flynt
503-730-5924, jennifer.flynt@deq.oregon.gov
NEXGEN
Marti Sharp
971-678-8455, sharp@carsonteam.com
ODFW
Meghan Dugan
541-315-6629, meghan.c.dugan@odfw.oregon.gov
CITY OF
MEDFORD
Kristina
Johnsen
503-407-7002, Kristina.Johnsen@cityofmedford.org
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