Dumping Used Oil On Roads Causes Problems For The Environment

Press Release, Sep 27, 2006

SPOKANE - Spokane County and the Washington Department of Ecology in Spokane are receiving many complaints about people illegally using used motor oil for dust suppression on dirt roads-a practice that threatens lakes, streams and underground water.

"This time of year, dust becomes a problem and some people collect their used oil all winter to pour on the road," said Jim Bellatty, Ecology's water quality supervisor in Spokane. "People are doing their spring automotive tune-ups. We need to make sure they know what the laws say and how to correctly and safely dispose of their oil."

Federal, state and local laws prohibit dumping oil products to the environment. Used motor oil is insoluble and may contain toxic chemicals and heavy metals that persist in the environment for many years.

Used oil is a major source of oil contamination in many bodies of water and can even pollute aquifers. Nearly a half million people in Spokane and Coeur d'Alene depend on the Rathdrum-Spokane Aquifer for clean drinking water.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the used oil from one oil change can contaminate one million gallons of fresh water.

"Water resources staff at both Ecology and the County are very concerned about inappropriate oiling of roads, in terms of pollution of our waters," said Director Bruce Rawls with Spokane County Utilities. We plan to dedicate more staff time to investigating complaints."

Even if it appears oil is dumped far from a body of water, rain and snow cause the oil to run off into the nearest creek or stream. The toxic materials also adhere to dirt particles and wash into the water with the soil.

Spokane County prohibits the use of any dust suppressant without a permit and prohibits the use of used oil under any circumstances. In fact, no dust suppression materials may be used at all within 50 feet of any body of water, such as stream crossings near Newman Lake, Liberty Lake, Little Spokane River, Hangman Creek, Spokane River and Silver Lake, where there is a possibility that the material will be washed into the lake or stream.