PetroCard Indian Creek Fuel Spill 2025

Status updates

Friday, August 8, 2025 -- 3 p.m.

Emergency response operations at Indian Creek have concluded and the incident is now transitioning into a new phase focused on environmental recovery, monitoring and restoration. We’ll continue working with Tribal, state, and federal partners to oversee these next steps.

For more details, please see the news release below issued by Unified Command.

Thursday, August 7, 2025 -- 2 p.m.

Response efforts have made strong progress this week, and we are getting closer to clean-up endpoints set by Unified Command at the beginning of the response. This does not mean the work is over, but that the response is entering a new phase focused on long-term monitoring, restoration, and assessment.

One key decision made by Unified Command, guided by input and in consultation with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, who are also part of Unified Command and represented in the response, is to keep Indian Creek open for the 2025 salmon run following last month’s fuel spill. The decision reflects expert input, strong cleanup progress, and a commitment to science-based monitoring and long-term restoration.

Read more about the decision-making process, risks considered, and what happens next in our blog: Navigating risk and Resilience: The Decision to Allow Salmon to Spawn After a Fuel Spill.

Monday, August 4, 2025 -- 5 p.m.

Fuel recovery and cleanup operations will continue over the coming days as crews focus on removing fuel from less accessible areas, including log jams and creek bed debris. Environmental teams are also continuing to sample water, soil, and sediments to assess remaining contamination. 

While nearby operations are winding down, the response is shifting from the emergency phase into a new phase focused on long-term environmental recovery. This includes ongoing monitoring and ecological assessments under the Natural Resources Damage Assessment (NRDA) process that includes trustees from Ecology and other Tribal, state,  and federal partners. The process will evaluate how the spill affected public resources, such as fish, other wildlife, water, habitat and recreation. The goal is to return the impacted public resources to their pre-spill condition as well as compensate the public through restoration for the period of time the resources were impacted.

Our commitment to Indian Creek doesn’t end here. We remain fully committed in restoring the health of the creek and supporting the land, water and communities impacted by the spill.

Friday, August 1, 2025 -- 1:30 p.m.

Crews continue to make strong progress removing fuel from Indian Creek. Recent fieldwork shows crews are successfully freeing fuel trapped in the gravel in the creek bed, making it easier to evaporate or be recovered.

Air monitoring remains ongoing, and cleanup efforts will continue until the area is safe and fuel removal is complete.

Strategies being used to recover fuel include flushing, aerating, and raking sediment, gravel, and vegetation. Vegetation caught in log jams and woody debris continue to trap fuel and require focused attention and careful removal.

Wildlife monitoring continues. Biologists and resource specialists from partner agencies and consultants involved in the response are developing plans to assess impacts on lamprey, salmon, and other aquatic life. Their findings are helping guide ongoing cleanup work, and shaping plans for long-term restoration. 

Please continue to avoid the area unless you are part of the response. Unplanned access can pose a safety risk and disrupt cleanup work.

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 -- 7 p.m.

Response work is ongoing, with Unified Command and all partners committed to a full cleanup and long-term restoration of the creek and affected areas.

Drinking water remains safe and ongoing monitoring is in place. If you have questions about private wells, please email liaison@ecy.wa.gov.

The Elwha River estuary and nearby beaches remain open and safe for public access and the Paddle to Elwha Canoe Journey will go on as scheduled. 

Salmon are expected to return to the Elwha River in the coming weeks. The Lower Elwha Tribe is actively exploring ways to protect fish before they enter the creek. Hatchery wells are also being monitored to ensure water remains safe for fish and their environment.

In addition to ongoing cleanup efforts, the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) process has begun to evaluate long-term environmental impacts and determine restoration needs. Tribal, state, and federal trustees will lead this work in partnership with the community and the responsible party.

Sunday, July 27, 2025 -- 7 p.m.

Today at Indian Creek, crews continued working across impacted areas and also focused on the upper half mile of Indian Creek near the accident location. This section of the creek is harder to access and contains dense vegetation and debris where fuel has collected. Crews made good progress at the accident location, where recovery and cleanup are nearing completion.

Current operations include:

• Agitating the creek bed, including sparging with air and water to release collected fuel trapped beneath rocks and debris.
• Removing contaminated soil from along the slope of the roadway where the truck entered the creek
• Flushing sections of the shoreline of the creek with water to release fuel so it can be collected with sorbent materials

Wildlife monitoring and water sampling are ongoing. No additional fish or wildlife impacts have been observed.

Please continue to avoid the area unless you are part of the coordinated response. Unplanned access can pose safety risks and disrupt cleanup work.

Saturday, July 26, 2025 -- 6:30 p.m.

Response operations were active today and remain ongoing. Just a reminder that we are asking the public not to visit any impacted areas unless you are a part of the official response and have coordinated through the Unified Command for this incident. Uncoordinated access can cause safety risks to you and the response team and interfere with cleanup efforts. Please contact liaison@ecy.wa.gov with any questions.

Due to the location of the spill, terrain and associated safety concerns, the need for volunteer support is still being evaluated and will continue to be assessed as the response progresses.

Registration is required for all volunteers participating in oil spill/hazardous response. Volunteers need to have specific training to ensure safety and effectiveness during response efforts. For more information on required training, volunteer roles and safety guidelines and how to sign up for potential volunteer opportunities, visit: Oil Spills 101.

Friday, July 25, 2025 -- 6 p.m.

Cleanup and assessment efforts continue today at Indian Creek along the 1.25-mile stretch from the site of the tanker accident downstream to the Elwha River. Unified Command remains actively engaged in leading response strategy and coordination, while crews in the field continue working to recover fuel, monitor environmental impacts, and reduce risks to wildlife and public health. Response operations are expected to continue through the weekend.

Crews are continuing sparging and water flushing operations and regularly replacing sorbent materials at key locations along Indian Creek. These efforts are supported by three primary boom and recovery setups:

• Aldwell Bridge
• Confluence with the Elwha River
• Just downstream of the location where the accident occurred

Additional recovery work is underway to remove fuel from creek beds and surrounding vegetation. Wildlife monitoring is also ongoing and will continue in the days ahead.

Protecting water quality continues to be a top priority. Test results confirmed that drinking water is safe, and continued sampling is being conducted to confirm that water remains safe.

Public access to the Elwha River Estuary and nearby beaches remains safe and open. Event organizers have confirmed that the Paddle to Elwha will continue as planned.

Thursday, July 24, 2025 -- 5 p.m.

Cleanup operations continue today at Indian Creek, with Unified Command crews actively working to contain and recover gasoline and diesel released during the spill. Response efforts are expected to continue, though a definitive timeline has not yet been established.

It has been confirmed that approximately 2,798 gallons of gasoline and 172 gallons of diesel were released from the tanker. Because gasoline is a lighter fuel that tends to evaporate quickly, this can affect how much is recoverable. Fuel recovery efforts remain underway, and it will take time to calculate how much has been successfully collected as crews continue their work in the field.

To contain and recover fuel, crews have deployed boom and are regularly replacing sorbent materials along the creek. Responders are conducting sparging operations within the creek and surrounding creek bed. This technique helps mobilize and recover the remaining fuel trapped in the creek bed and groundwater. A vac truck continues to remove contaminated soil.

To protect wildlife, exclusion fencing has been installed to prevent animals from entering the affected areas. As of today, the confirmed fish kill count is 2,130 and wildlife monitoring remains ongoing.

Shoreline assessments will continue, and response operations remain focused on safety, environmental protection, and a coordinated response by all involved.  

  

Wednesday, July 23, 2025 -- 7 p.m.

Response operations continue at the Indian Creek spill location, with teams broadening their reach to support cleanup and monitoring efforts.

Shoreline, wildlife and aquatic habitat assessments are ongoing.

The total volume of recovered fuel and extent of wildlife are still being determined.

Today, Unified Command issued a press release advising that fuel from the spill is not affecting the Elwha River estuary or nearshore waters. Public access remains open and safe. The Paddle to Elwha event will proceed as scheduled, according to event organizers.

See the section below, titled News releases, for the full press release.

Tuesday, July 22, 2025 -- 6:30 p.m.

The Unified Command, made up of Tribal, federal, state, local, and company representatives, continues to work together to ensure cleanup is done safely and effectively, and spill response crews are making steady progress in containing and cleaning up remaining fuel. Boom that was previously deployed remains in place to support containment, and sorbent materials are being replaced regularly to help with fuel recovery. Crews used a vac truck to remove contaminated mulch from the upland bank and are preparing to begin sediment removal above the high-water mark. Shoreline assessments are also ongoing. The total volume of recovered fuel is still being calculated.

Wildlife response teams continue to assess potential impacts. So far, no effects to animals other than fish have been observed. We do not have a confirmed count of affected fish. Fish collection and documentation are ongoing. To report oiled or injured wildlife, call 1-800-22-BIRDS.

Please do not visit any impacted areas unless you are a part of the official response and have coordinated through the Unified Command for this incident. Uncoordinated access can cause safety risks to you and the response team and interfere with cleanup efforts. Please contact liaison@ecy.wa.gov with any questions.

Due to the location of the spill, terrain and associated safety concerns, the need for volunteer support is still being evaluated and will continue to be assessed as the response progresses.

Registration is required for all volunteers participating in oil spill/hazardous response. Volunteers need to have specific training to ensure safety and effectiveness during response efforts. For more information on required training, volunteer roles and safety guidelines and how to sign up for potential volunteer opportunities, visit: Oil Spills 101.

A claims number has been set up for this incident. If you believe that you or your property has been impacted by this spill, contact the claims number at 360-660-1071 or email indiancreekinquiries@petrocard.com.

Monday, July 21, 2025 -- 6 p.m.

Cleanup and containment efforts are still underway. Crews are regularly changing out sorbent materials while working to recover fuel. The total amount collected has not yet been confirmed.

Shoreline assessments are ongoing. No wildlife surveys were conducted today, and there continue to be no reports of oiled wildlife. Tomorrow, crews plan to install exclusion fencing where Indian Creek meets the Elwha River. To report oiled wildlife, call 1-800-22-BIRDS.

Shortly after the spill, response crews observed immediate fish kills. This is consistent with gas, which is acutely toxic to fish. Fish collection and monitoring are ongoing. While we don’t have a final count, teams continue to document and assess affected areas as part of the environmental response.  

The water alert has been lifted. Ongoing monitoring and sampling will continue to ensure water remains safe. For concerns about your water, please visit: www.cityofpa.us

Please do not visit any impacted areas unless you are a part of the official response and have coordinated through the response team or Tribal partners. Uncoordinated access can interfere with cleanup efforts and pose safety risks.

To learn about volunteer opportunities, visit Oil Spills 101.

If you believe that you or your property has been impacted by this spill, contact the claims number at 360-660-1071 or email indiancreekinquiries@petrocard.com.

Sunday, July 20, 2025 -- 5:30 p.m.

As of 5:15 p.m., the City of Port Angeles has lifted the “Do Not Drink” water order. 

City of Port Angeles: “Do Not Drink” Order LIFTED for City of Port Angeles

Sunday, July 20, 2025 -- 9:30 a.m.

Containment and cleanup operations continue at the site of the fuel spill.

The City of Port Angeles has issued a water alert out of an abundance of caution. Please refer to the city's official alert for additional guidance. 

City of Port Angeles: “Do Not Drink” Water Order Issued, City to Open Water Distribution Sites

Saturday, July 19, 2025 -- 7:30 p.m.

Response crews have transitioned to a new phase of the incident following the successful removal of the overturned tanker truck from Indian Creek. With the potential for additional release eliminated, current operations are focused on minimizing environmental impacts through fuel recovery and environmental assessments. 

Cleanup contractors are placing containment boom, replacing sorbent materials, and identifying areas where fuel can be recovered. 

Shoreline, wildlife, and aquatic resource assessments are ongoing. To report oiled wildlife, call 1-800-22-BIRDS.

Out of caution, the City of Port Angeles temporarily shut down the Elwha River drinking water intake. For local water system updates and guidance, visit www.cityofpa.us.

Fish kills have been observed in the affected area. Crews are documenting and assessing the extent of impacts in coordination with Tribal and wildlife response teams. 

Saturday, July 19, 2025 -- 9:30 a.m.

As of 5 a.m., the overturned tanker truck has been successfully lifted and removed from Indian Creek and Highway 101 is now open.

Crews are continuing to confirm the total volume of fuel released into the water. Preliminary estimates indicate 3,000 gallons of a mixture of gasoline and diesel, with the majority being gasoline, spilled into Indian Creek.

Air monitoring readings were not at a level above human health and safety at this time, but people in the area should still be mindful of symptoms like headaches, or dizziness and seek medical attention if needed.

The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe will conduct shoreline assessments today to monitor for environmental impacts. The Department of Health is also collecting water samples for further analysis.

Containment and recovery efforts remain underway, with crews continuing to actively manage the release and protect downstream resources.

Friday, July 18, 2025 -- 5:30 p.m.

Responders remain on scene at the site of a dual-tanker truck rollover near milepost 238 on U.S. Highway 101 in Clallam County. The truck left the roadway and overturned into Indian Creek. 

The truck's capacity was 6,000 gallons of diesel and 4,000 gallons of gasoline. The truck is actively leaking and crews are working to contain the spill. The volume of fuel that has entered the water is currently unknown.

Boom has been deployed downstream to help contain the spread. A coordinated, multi-agency response is underway to assess environmental impacts and begin cleanup efforts.

A Unified Command has been established, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Washington Department of Ecology, Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, and PetroCard. Other responding agencies and contractors include, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue, Focus Wildlife, and Republic Services.

Responders continue to monitor potential impacts to fish, wildlife, and the surrounding environment. To report oiled wildlife, call 1-800-22-BIRDS.

The roadway remains closed at this time. Please avoid the area to support a safe and effective response. 

We do not need volunteers at this time. If you are interested in learning more about oil spill response in Washington, visit Oil Spills 101.

Friday, July 18, 2025 -- 11:30 a.m.

The Washington Department of Ecology is responding to a tanker truck rollover on U.S. Highway 101 between mileposts 237 and 238, where a dual-trailer rig left the road and overturned into Indian Creek in Clallam County. One trailer contains an estimated 3,900 gallons of diesel and the other up to 6,000 gallons of gasoline.

Initial reports indicate oil may be leaking into the creek, but that has not yet been confirmed. Ecology is mobilizing and will coordinate with on-scene partners and oversee the response once onsite.

The trucking company has hired a spill response contractor to support cleanup efforts.

Photos of this incident are available through our Flickr album.