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Energy Northwest halts and inspects circulating‑water discharge after foam reports; subsequent tests show no oil sheen
Summary
Energy Northwest reported a potential oil indication at Columbia Generating Station Aug. 15, halted discharge as a precaution, sampled for fats/oil/grease and found results below detection limits; the plant restored discharge Aug. 18 and will file a five‑day report with FSEC and Ecology.
Energy Northwest notified the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council on Aug. 20 of an environmental compliance investigation at Columbia Generating Station after staff reported possible oil sheens in circulating cooling‑water infrastructure on the evening of Aug. 15. Kelly Elsa Fagan, representing Columbia Generating Station and WNP‑1/4, told the council that Energy Northwest stopped the discharge “out of an abundance of caution” and notified FSEC and the Washington State Department of Ecology. Energy Northwest, Graymar Environmental (a cleanup contractor), and Ecology inspected the river, the circulating water cooling towers and the pump house the evening of Aug. 15; no oil sheen was observed. Fagan said Graymar Environmental concluded the visible foam was likely biological based on its experience, and follow‑up samples for fats, oil and grease were below detection limits. During the inspection Energy Northwest identified a potential oil loss in one reactor feed turbine heat exchanger and took that exchanger out of service over the weekend. Samples remained below detection limits and Energy Northwest restored discharge to the Columbia River on Aug. 18. Fagan said the station will submit a required five‑day report detailing the incident and corrective actions to FSEC by the end of Aug. 20.
