Imploded tank at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co in Longview, Washington. Photo: Karen Ducey, Seattle Times.
On May 26, 2026, an 80,000-gallon storage tank at Nippon Dynawave Packaging in Longview, Washington suffered a complete failure, releasing a large quantity of white liquor — a corrosive chemical that consists mainly of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide used in paper making. Fortunately most of the chemical remained on the property and was collected with a sweeper. However, an unknown amount of white liquor washed into the storm drains and ditch system surrounding the facility, which, raised concerns about the chemical reaching the Columbia River and the city’s drinking water aquifer, though both have so far been deemed safe.
The incident resulted in 11 fatalities. The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission extends its deepest condolences to the families of the workers killed in last week’s catastrophic tank rupture at Nippon Dynawave in Longview. Their loss is immeasurable and our hearts are with everyone grieving.
Water testing and air quality monitoring are ongoing. Washington Department of Ecology is the lead agency and is coordinating the Unified Command for the incident, coordinating efforts and information to, EPA, NOAA, tribes, and local emergency agencies.
Click here for the latest updates from the Washington Dept of Ecology website.
Current status as of June 1
- Chemical effluent is no longer reaching the ditch/canal system and through that into the Columbia. Additional sources of water were identified and used to dilute the ditch/canal system. All pH levels measured in the ditch network are now in normal range. The pH of diluted fluid that reached the Columbia has been consistently within normal range throughout the incident.
- Clean up operations using vacuum truck sweepers are in progress at the facility.
- A contractor has been hired to develop a cleanup and sampling and monitoring plan. Sulfur chemistry will be monitored in the soil and groundwater. A decision on whether to remove soil from the ditch/canal has not been made and will depend on findings from chemical analysis.
FAQ
- What are the chemicals in white liquor that was spilled? White liquor’s main active chemicals are sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide. Most of the volume of white liquor is the sodium hydroxide (commonly known as lye) which is a compound of sodium, oxygen, and hydrogen. The other component, in a small percentage, is sodium sulfide, which is sodium and sulfur. The main danger from this mix is its extreme pH of 13-14. (Water is neutral with a pH of 7.)
- Did the chemical get into the Columbia River? The chemical was diluted while in the ditch/canal system and pH in the ditch/canal was about 11. The fluid that reached the Colulmbia never exceeded neutral range. The sulfide is another aquatic life concern. White liquor typically contains a few percent sodium sulfide. No detects of hydrogen sulfide in air were made at the site.
- Have any fish been killed by this accident? Yes, but none from the Columbia River. To date, about 2,000 dead fish have been collected from the facility’s drain and dike system that separates it from the Columbia. These fish include carp, catfish, sunfish, bass, peamouth chub, bridgelip sucker, redside shiner, 3 tadpoles, and 1 hatchery raised coho salmon.
- Will this spill affect salmon or the salmon run? No. The salinity and pH of the diluted water leaving the drainage system is similar to water in the estuary.
- Would salmon that swam through this area be safe to eat? Yes. There are no metals or bioaccumulative compounds in white liquor, only sodium and sulfur.
This page will be updated as new information comes in.