2,500 gallon spill at Nippon pulp mill mostly contained

LONGVIEW — About 2,500 gallons of treated wastewater and sludge spilled from the Nippon Dynawave pulp mill late Sunday morning, according to the state Department of Ecology.

The spill was reported at 11:47 a.m., Ecology spokesman Jeff Zenk said Monday. About 2,000 gallons of the material hit the pavement at the Industrial Way mill, where it was captured and drained back into the mill’s treatment system, Zenk said. The other roughly 500 gallons hit soil, he said.

Zenk said the cause of the spill remained unclear. He said he didn’t have enough information to say whether the spill caused any environmental damage.

“Fortunately, the vast majority of it was captured and drained back into the system,” Zenk said.

The Department of Ecology industrial division is investigating the spill, Zenk said, and will determine whether to fine the company.

Nippon’s Longview mill makes liquid packaging board and market pulp.

A spokesperson from Nippon was not immediately available for comment.