Kipnuk Ruptured Fuel Line

Location: Kipnuk is located on the west bank of the Kugkaktlik River in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Kipnuk is 4 miles from Kinak Bay and 85 air miles southwest of Bethel.
Time/Date: The discharge was discovered by a local resident and verified by the RP employee around 2:00 PM on July 5, 2006. The RP reported the discharge to ADEC at 2:53 PM on July 5, 2006.
Spill Id: 06279918601
Product/ Quantity: On July 9, 2006 the facility manager revised the diesel spill amount to 6,100 gallons. This figure is estimated based on the product measurement on the tank and amount of fuel distributed since the 110,000-gallon capacity bulk tank was last filled in June. Out of the 6,100 gallons spilled, approximately 1,600 gallons were recovered by local responders using buckets and sorbent materials at the spill site and from the Kugkaktlik River. ADEC estimates between 3,500 and 4,000 gallons could have entered the river, and estimated 500 and 1,000 gallons remain in the soil between the discharge location and where it entered the unnamed creek.
Cause: The PRP reported that a flexible fuel line from the bulk tank to the fueling station ruptured, resulting in a diesel discharge outside of its containment area. The cause of the rupture is being investigated by the Coast Guard.

Images may be downloaded for free and used in publications provided credit is given to the source.