Gardner-Fields asphalt spill

(Information on this site is considered to be accurate at the time of posting, but is subject to change as new information becomes available.)

Gardner-Fields, LLC, spilled about 10-20,000 gallons of heated asphalt to an industrial drainage ditch in Tacoma.

Summary information

Date of incident:  February 10, 2015
Location:

Tacoma, WA

Type of incident: Asphalt spill
Cause of incident: Failed valve
Responsible party: Gardner-Fields, LLC

Status updates

February 10, 2015

On Feb. 8, 2015 a company called Gardner-Fields, LLC, spilled about 10-20,000 gallons of heated asphalt to an industrial drainage ditch in Tacoma. The spill occurred due to a failed valve during the transfer from a rail tank car to an aboveground storage tank at their facility just south of Taylor Way and Lincoln Avenue.
 
Ecology responders have been on-scene overseeing the cleanup. The U.S. E.P.A. also responded to the incident. On Feb. 9, two mallard ducks were found to be exposed to the product. WDFW was able to rescue them and the Port of Tacoma brought them to PAWS for cleanup.
 
Gardner-Fields is responsible for the response and cleanup, and has been cooperating with all agencies involved.

Media contact

Ty Keltner, Media contact, ty.keltner@ecy.wa.gov, 360-407-6990