Pennwalt Corporation; Tacoma, Washington

Tacoma, Washington | 1986-Jul-27

Initial Notification: On July 27, 1986, a coupling for a Pennwalt Corporation pipeline pulled apart, causing 5,000 gallons of sulfuric acid to spill directly into the Hylebos Waterway in Tacoma, Washington.The acid quickly diluted in the waterway and residual was cleaned up by Pennwalt. There was no aquatic mortality.NOAA/OAD was notified of the incident on July 28, 1986, by the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office in Seattle, and requested to assess the potential problems that might be associated with the spill. NOAA advised that the sulfuric acid would rapidly dilute to a safe level in a localized area (200 yards). However, fumes from the reaction of sulfuric acid with water might be present in the immediate area. NOAA also cautioned the Coast Guard that there would be a possibility of a localized fish kill. USCG district 13.