KAHLOTUS, Washington -- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operations officials at Lower Monumental Lock and Dam reported a suspected oil leak in hydroelectric generator unit number 2, yesterday.
The suspected oil leak was reported to the National Response Center (NRC), the Environmental Protection Agency - Region 10, and Washington Dept. of Emergency Management, which is responsible for notifying the Washington Dept. of Ecology.
The generator unit was shut down when maintenance workers detected a discrepancy in the mass balance of turbine oil at Lower Monumental Dam’s powerhouse. Corps staff are investigating the suspected leak.
“Our oil accountability program led us to the decision to take unit 2 out of service while we investigate to conclusively determine if we have an oil leak from the turbine runner into the water. However, all six units’ oil systems are interconnected, making it very difficult to quantify the amount of oil in an individual unit,” said Don Redman, the Corps’ Walla Walla District environmental compliance coordinator. “If we confirm there is a leak, the unit will remain out of service until we can un-water it to conduct repairs.”
Workers have not observed any oil sheens on the water downstream of the dam, according to operations officials.
More information about the suspected leak will be provided as soon as it becomes available.
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Release no. 17-085