Date of incident: June 10, 1999.
Location: Bellingham, Washington.
Trustees:
Case status: Habitat restoration projects have been completed and all that remains to do is some park enhancements.
Overview: On June 10, 1999, a gasoline pipeline in Bellingham, Washington, owned by the Olympic Pipe Line Company, ruptured and discharged approximately 236,000 gallons of gasoline into Hanna Creek and, subsequently, into Whatcom Creek. Whatcom Creek is a 3.5-mile-long coastal stream that runs through a city park, residential neighborhoods, and urban industrial areas before emptying into Bellingham Bay. As the gasoline was carried down the creek, the fumes were ignited, causing three human deaths and affecting a variety of natural resources along the creek's path. To compensate for injuries to natural resources and the park closure the trustees have completed several habitat restoration projects and acquired property that has been added to the park.
