Central Washington Asphalt, an asphalt paving company, has been slapped with a $49,000 penalty for an asphalt spill incident that occurred in Peshastin, Washington, back in 2023. While repaving a bridge on U.S. Highway 2, the company accidentally spilled at least 70 gallons of hot asphalt. According to information obtained from the Washington State Department of Ecology's website, the mishap left approximately 35 gallons of asphalt seeping into Peshastin Creek and the rest on the dry creek bed and nearby banks.
Inspectors from the Washington State Department of Transportation initially discovered the spill during a routine inspection on Aug. 10, and directed that Central Washington Asphalt report it. However, it took the company until Aug. 22 to notify the Department of Ecology and their response to the directive to begin cleanup was not immediate. The company's failure to use sufficient protective methods to prevent asphalt from falling through during the paving operation was noted by Ecology's investigation.
Efforts to remediate the spill by the asphalt company met with limited success, as the measures taken were deemed ineffective by the Department of Ecology. As a result, the hardened asphalt along with debris was partially removed by Ecology responders on Sept. 28, with about 20 gallons taken out. Nonetheless, rising creek water levels thwarted a complete cleanup, leaving an amount of the substance in the ecosystem, according to the same news release.
Peshastin Creek, a key habitat for endangered species and an important cold-water refuge, was recently impacted by an asphalt spill. The spill cleanup was delayed due to rising water levels, raising concerns about the potential risk to fish and the local ecosystem. Environmental groups are stressing the need for companies operating near sensitive areas like this to follow strict safety practices and ensure quick, thorough responses to accidents.
