COLUSA, CA (MPG) — A pollution case tied to a fuel spill investigated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement Division and the Office of Spill Prevention and Response has been settled by the Colusa County District Attorney’s Office.
Vann Brothers, an agricultural business focused on almond cultivation and processing, agreed to pay a $95,000 penalty for its role in a January 2024 red dyed diesel spill that affected Salt Creek.
Investigators said the spill occurred when an employee filled a small tank from a 10,000 gallon diesel tank at a company field yard in almond orchards outside Williams. The employee left the transfer unattended, allowing about 1,400 gallons to spill onto the ground. Rather than contain the spill as required, the employee and two others used push brooms and a hose to move the fuel into a nearby ditch.
The diesel flowed into a larger roadside ditch and entered Salt Creek, which runs from the eastern Coast Ranges toward the Sacramento River through Williams and the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge. Authorities found no evidence the fuel entered the refuge. A nearby resident saw the fuel the next morning and reported it, triggering a multi-agency response.
Officials said the employee attempted to conceal the spill and did not notify management. The company responded only after contact from the Sheriff’s Office. Investigators said Vann Brothers cooperated once notified and removed contaminated soil.
The employee pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor Fish and Game Code violation. He was ordered to pay a $4,185 fine and serve one year of probation.
Colusa County District Attorney Matthew Beauchamp said water pollution remains a priority for his office due to local fish, waterfowl and wetland resources.
“While it was upsetting that this incident occurred and risked significant pollution to Salt Creek and possibly the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge downstream, once Vann Brothers management was alerted to the issue, they thoroughly cleaned the site and implemented construction and policy changes to ensure that something like this will not happen again,” Beauchamp said.
Assistant Chief Josh Nicholas of the CDFW Law Enforcement Division said environmental damage was limited because the spill was reported quickly.
“We encourage anyone who sees something potentially impacting our waterways to report it immediately,” Nicholas said.
CDFW officials said a specialized enforcement unit dedicated to OSPR conducts criminal investigations tied to spill response. Illegal pollution and wildlife crimes can be reported to CalTIP at 1 888 334 2258 or through the TIP411 app.