Red-dye diesel spills into Palouse River

PULLMAN – State officials are assessing potential damage from a red-dye diesel spill Monday, April 26, into the Palouse River.

The spill was discovered by Four Star Supply officials, who determined approximately 1,200 gallons of the agricultural fuel had leaked from an above-ground tank and into the river.

The fuel leak could be seen 1,000 feet downriver from the source of the leak, officials said.

Red-dye diesel is non-taxed fuel to be used on farms, and not in highway vehicles. It’s colored red to easily identify it.

The company removed the remaining fuel in the 10,000-gallon tank, officials said, noting Four Star initiated nearby cleanup and protective measures.

A Spokane contractor was hired for clean-up response, and a containment boom was deployed as fuel continues to leach from the soil below the tank, officials said.

State Department of Ecology crews were scheduled to visit the site earlier this week.

Ecology officials said a crack in the bottom of the tank caused the loss of fuel.

“Aging above-ground storage tanks can be a concern across Eastern Washington, where many farms store red-dye diesel for their operations,” said Sam Hunn, Ecology’s regional spill response manager.

“We hope farms and farm supply groups take this as a cautionary prompt to routinely test the integrity of their tanks.”