BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Crews are hauling out contaminated soil as the effort to clean up the fuel spill at Padden Creek continues.

The Unified Command in charge of the cleanup, led by the Washington Department of Ecology, says crews have removed 13 truckloads of contaminated material from the site since the response began.

Soil samples taken from along the creek will help determine when the excavation work will be over.

My Bellingham Now previously reported that over 670 gallons of diesel were released into Padden Creek earlier this month following two separate fuel spills from the same faulty pump at the site of a fish passage project.

The Unified Command says the spill has been contained and no fuel reached Bellingham Bay, but six fish died as a likely result of the spill.

Bellingham Public Works Director Joel Pfundt told city council last week that the incident may establish a new safeguard for the city’s future projects.

“We’ve also replaced the faulty pump and enhanced secondary containment at all pump locations, which we’re considering as a new standard for all future city restoration projects,” Pfundt said at the council’s Aug. 11 Committee of the Whole meeting.

A stop work order on the fish passage project remains in effect until all the contaminated soil is removed.