Ketchikan Gateway Borough approves $2.4 million appropriation for Point Higgins diesel spill cleanup

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly on Oct. 6 approved Ordinance 20-88, appropriating $2,400,000 from general-fund reserves to pay immediate cleanup and long-term mitigation costs tied to a diesel spill at Point Higgins Elementary School.

Finance Director Charlene Thomas told the assembly the borough manager made the written findings required by borough code to declare the incident an emergency and that the appropriation will allow remediation to proceed without delay. "This ordinance will provide appropriation authority to ensure remediation proceeds without delay," Thomas said.

Why it matters: Borough staff said the borough is advancing cleanup costs from reserves to maintain public safety and environmental protection and will pursue reimbursement from insurance carriers and, if necessary, from contractors involved. The…