Alyeska assists clean up efforts with Chena River fuel spill
 

 

FAIRBANKS, AK – A crane working on the Barnette Street Bridge crashed into the Chena River on Tuesday June 29, falling across the river with its tip coming to rest on the south shore. The crane’s wreckage twisted around the pillars of the unfinished bridge.

Department of Transportation (DOT) spokeswoman Meadow Bailey said it appears the crane overextended itself while driving a pylon about 40 feet away. The crane operator appeared visibly shaken but uninjured.

DOT began immediate cleanup effort, and environmental crews began dealing with fuel spilling into the river from the crane’s fuel tank.

There was a small weep of diesel fuel coming from the crane and although ADEC had set some containment boom in addition to absorbent boom, there was still some break through of fuel flowing down the Chena.
Alyeska was requested to assist by providing approximately 60’ of boom and a skimmer. With guidance from Fairbanks Response Base personnel, two boom sets were deployed and were able to capture nearly 100% of the sheen coming from the crane.

“All of us were glad that Alyeska was able to assist in this small way to mitigate the impact of this incident to our city’s river,” said Alan Braley, Alyeska Pipeline & Civil Maintenance Coordinator.

For more information, visit www.alyeska-pipe.com, or follow Alyeska on Facebook or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AlyeskaPipeline.
 

 

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