The Washington State Department of Transportation reported that almost 60,000 transportation incidents resulting in the accidental release of hazardous materials occurred between 1987 and 1989. King County has not had any significant railroad incidents in recent years. Pierce County recently had a derailment which spilled boric acid and diesel fuel into south Puget Sound. The head-on collision between two trains in Kelso escaped a major spill. Two recent derailments in Snohomish County resulted in a fire and evacuation that lasted several days.
Rail lines run throughout downtown Seattle and populous areas of King County.
King County also has numerous abandoned hazardous waste sites that are being cleaned up under the Superfund program. There are at least five sites in Kent and one very large site in South Seattle. Vulnerability Primarily, spills happen in the course of routine daily commerce anywhere hazardous materials are handled or transported. There are over 3000 facilities with hazardous materials located in the City of Seattle alone that are regulated under the fire code. Areas with high concentrations of hazardous materials usage include Harbor Island, the Duwamish Corridor, Redmond and the Kent Valley.