The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an administrative order requiring Keller Transport Inc to clean up contamination resulting from an April 2 tractor/trailer spill of 6,380 gallons of gasoline on Highway 35 near Polson MT, according to EPA information.
The spill occurred within the boundaries of the Flathead Reservation, home to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
While response crews have been working in the spill area since April 3, EPA's order will require that all appropriate actions are taken to clean up contaminated soils and water and eliminate hazardous vapors in nearby residences. Actions completed to date have included the installation of monitoring wells, a system to pump and treat contaminated water, and the evacuation and ventilation of several homes impacted by petroleum vapors. Recent sampling indicates that petroleum hydrocarbons, including benzene and toluene, have migrated to Flathead Lake. At this time, there is no evidence that the local drinking water supply has been impacted, according to the EPA information.
EPA's administrative order is issued under authorities established by the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Under the order, Keller Transport must provide EPA with a work plan within 25 days. This plan should specify future cleanup actions and provide a schedule for their completion. EPA may approve, disapprove, or modify the work plan as necessary. EPA's oversight of Keller Transport's response actions will ensure that cleanup levels meet tribal and federal regulations, according to the EPA information.