What’s that oil sheen on Capitol Lake? Here’s what we know about the spill
The Olympian received a tip on Friday morning that there was an oil spill spotted on the north end of Capitol Lake near the dam that separates the body of water from Budd Inlet. A spokesperson with the Department of Ecology said it was caused by the two semi-truck accident on Wednesday on Interstate 5, and cleanup efforts are underway.
Communications Manager Brittny Goodsell said Ecology is pretty sure both diesel and motor oil spilled onto the road and into the stormwater system following the crash.
“We found motor oil in the stormwater system that drains into Capitol Lake that evening, and we placed absorbents in the drains as well as nearby stormwater pipes to capture as much as we could,” she said.
Goodsell said the department hired Republic Services on Thursday to clean out the stormwater system in Tumwater Historical Park. They’re also working with the Department of Transportation to clean out WSDOT’s stormwater infrastructure.
“We also placed additional boom and sweep (tools to absorb any oil) around the area where I-5 crosses over the lake,” Goodsell said. “Today, the clean-up contractors will swap out and collect some emulsified oil that has accumulated in that spot that crosses over the lake.”
As far as the oil sheen goes, Goodsell said just one drop of oil can spread far and create a thin sheen on a body of water. And anything super thin on the surface of the middle of the lake is “non-recoverable.”
“That’s because even if we put absorbent material on it, it likely wouldn’t get picked up being that thin; the thinness changes how oil or diesel can effectively stick to absorbent material,” she said.
Goodsell said Ecology doesn’t believe the sheen in the lake is made up of gallons and gallons of oil. She said absorbents were placed into the lake almost immediately after the spill, and whatever is left is a very small portion. She said crews are continuing to clean up the lake, and it will likely take a few days to complete.
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