Ammonia leak reported at paper mill

PORT ANGELES — An ammonia leak from a tank at McKinley Paper mill was isolated in a containment area and did not drain into water or the environment, said Capt. Kelly Ziegler of the Port Angeles Fire Department.

Firefighters were called out to the leak from a 16,000 gallon tank filled with a 15 percent concentration of aqueous ammonia at the mill at 1850 W. Marine Drive at 7:42 p.m. Thursday, Ziegler said in a press release.

Crews isolated the area and controlled traffic on Marine Drive. Ziegler said. Mill safety personnel used monitoring equipment to establish an isolation zone and confirmed the spill was not released from a containment area, he said.

No one was hurt.

The amount spilled as well as the cause of the spill remained undetermined as of Friday morning.

The fire department, along with mill personnel and under the direction of the state Department of Ecology, developed a mitigation plan, Ziegler said.

“The safety equipment in place at the mill prevented any threat to the public or the environment,” he said adding that although the amount of the spill was unknown at this time, “it was within the capabilities of McKinley Paper to remove safely.”

The fire department responded with one engine, two ambulances and one chief officer totaling 11 personnel.

Port Angeles Police Department responded with one officer for traffic control and Port Angeles Street department responded with one, also for traffic control.

More in News

Tim Morland, front, and Rich Lear of Tualatin, Ore.-based Field Turf USA add fill to the playing surface at the new Monroe Athletic Field on Tuesday at the site of the former Monroe School near Roosevelt Elementary School in Port Angeles. The synthetic turf field, which is expected to be completed by mid-autumn, is being developed by the Port Angeles School District and will be available for community athletic events. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Monroe field prep

Tim Morland, front, and Rich Lear of Tualatin, Ore.-based Field Turf USA… Continue reading

Petitions developed by local citizens seek to keep the “new” Towne Road unpaved and open to hikers and walkers. (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Public comment sought about Sequim’s Towne Road future

Meeting for residents scheduled for Tuesday

Eran Kennedy.
Sound regional publisher stresses local connections

Partnerships offer lifeline despite struggling industry

A crew from Port Townsend Public Works watches as a backhoe removes water-logged timber from a sinkhole on Kearney Street outside the Food Co-op on Tuesday at the start of construction of a traffic circle at the intersection of state Highway 20/East Sims Way and Kearney Street in Port Townsend. Traffic heading eastbound toward Port Townsend will detour at Benedict Street and turn left on Washington Street to return to Highway 20/East Sims Way. Traffic going westbound away from Port Townsend will turn right at Kearney Street and left onto Jefferson Street to continue on Highway 20. The detour configuration will last about four weeks, according to the state Department of Transportation. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Roundabout construction

A crew from Port Townsend Public Works watches as a backhoe removes… Continue reading

Members of the Bagley family of Forsyth, Ill., from left, parents Jessica and Cameron Bagley, and children Cody, 10, Addie, 12, and C.J., 7, look at an information kiosk on the Olympic National Park wildfires on Tuesday in front of the park visitor center in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Blazes spread in center of Olympic National Park

Large helicopters requested to keep fires at bay

Wreck shuts down US 101 south of Brinnon for five hours

A semitrailer driver accused of falling asleep at the wheel… Continue reading

Peninsula College sophomores Ian Coughran, left, and Ciera Skelly were two of seven students participating in the inaugural Pathway Summer School at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory this summer that focused on education and career development in STEM fields. Both Coughran and Skelly plan to pursue degrees in environmental science. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Internship through college presents career pathways

Students part of inaugural class at Sequim laboratory

Bathrooms possible at Ridge in November

Utility project may allow winter access

Most Read