An industrial chemical leak at a Southeast Portland manufacturing facility killed a large number of fish and aquatic animals in Johnson Creek during September, according to state regulators. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality announced it is investigating Precision Castparts Corporation Structurals after determining that nearly 400 gallons of corrosive chemicals entered the waterway through the plant’s stormwater system.
Investigation Triggers Enforcement After Foamy Discharge Reports Along Springwater Corridor Trail
The state’s inquiry began after residents reported a foamy discharge and dead fish near the Springwater Corridor Trail along Johnson Creek on September 18, KATU reported. Investigators from the DEQ and other agencies subsequently confirmed multiple dead fish and aquatic life scattered along a one-to-two-mile stretch of the stream. Michael Loch, a DEQ public affairs specialist, stated that inspectors witnessed wildlife impacts one to two miles downstream from the stormwater outfall, establishing the link between the facility discharge and the animal deaths. While officials could not estimate the exact count, Loch noted that the toll included a lot of impacted wildlife.
DEQ said Precision Castparts Corporation Structurals informed the agency that sodium hydroxide and other chemicals were released through the facility’s stormwater system into Johnson Creek between Sept. 17 and 19.https://t.co/6uYNW1w4do
Precision Castparts informed regulators that the release occurred between September 17 and September 19 while workers were installing an air quality control device. The company estimated that the discharge included 394 gallons of sodium hydroxide, alongside smaller amounts of sodium hydrosulfide and sodium chlorite. Sodium hydroxide is a highly corrosive substance that causes deep chemical burns and generates heat when mixed with water. In response to the incident, the company stated that it immediately stopped using the equipment involved in the installation.
State Regulators Cite Most Serious Violations Over Water Quality Standards
The DEQ notified Precision Castparts on a Friday that it committed the most serious violations of state environmental laws by causing pollution in Oregon waters and lowering water quality below established standards, according to OPB. The agency initiated an enforcement process that could result in civil penalties and corrective orders. Precision Castparts issued a public apology for the spill, stating that it values the Johnson Creek Watershed and intends to support ongoing watershed improvement efforts.
Public health officials have sought to reassure residents living near the creek. Jonathan Modie of the Oregon Health Authority stated that the released chemicals do not persist or accumulate in the bodies of fish. According to Modie, the natural flow of Johnson Creek neutralized the corrosivity and diluted the spilled material to safe levels within hours after the discharge stopped. State health officials confirmed there is no ongoing risk to the public.
Prior Environmental Record and Community Response in Southeast Portland
The incident adds to a long history of environmental scrutiny for the facility, which has operated since the 1950s and is owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. In 2011, the plant released an orange plume of nitrogen dioxide following a power outage, forcing nearby residents to shelter indoors. More recently, the company agreed to pay $22.5 million in 2022 to settle a class-action lawsuit over air pollution stemming from a 2016 study that found toxic levels of heavy metals in tree moss across surrounding neighborhoods.
A Berkshire Hathaway-owned manufacturer spilled 394 gallons of industrial chemicals into a creek. Dead fish found along two miles of waterwayOregon environmental regulators have formally notified Precision Castparts that it committed serious environmental violations after…
Local residents expressed frustration following the September spill, pointing to the industrial scale of the plant. Brian Saxe told KATU that the company has the resources to maintain tighter oversight, while Arum Chung emphasized that having a natural body of water in an urban area is a significant privilege for the community to enjoy. Precision Castparts did not immediately respond to subsequent emailed requests for comment from reporters, and multiple phone calls to staff at the Johnson Creek facility reached voicemail.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Johnson Creek Chemical Spill
What specific chemicals were released into Johnson Creek?
Precision Castparts reported releasing 394 gallons of sodium hydroxide, along with smaller amounts of sodium hydrosulfide and sodium chlorite, through its stormwater system.
When did the chemical discharge occur?
State regulators determined the release took place between September 17 and September 19 while the company was installing an air quality control device.
What enforcement actions is the state considering against Precision Castparts?
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality initiated an enforcement process citing the most serious violations of state environmental laws and is weighing civil penalties and corrective orders.
Is there any ongoing health risk to people living near the creek?
The Oregon Health Authority stated that the chemicals do not persist in the environment and that natural creek flows neutralized and diluted the spill within hours of stopping, leaving no current public risk.
How many animals were killed by the discharge?
Regulators confirmed dead fish and aquatic life along a one-to-two-mile stretch downstream from the outfall but stated they could only verify that a large number of animals were affected.
More on Southeast Portland
Precision Castparts Corporation Structurals spilled almost 400 gallons of sodium hydroxide into Johnson Creek in mid-September, according to Oregon DEQ records. pic.twitter.com/rsYfI6WbSh
Hundreds of fish and other wildlife suddenly died in Johnson Creek. Oregon DEQ is testing the water to determine what caused the unusual die-off. https://t.co/8wC4hug8Kx