The U.S. Department of Justice has agreed to settle alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act stemming from a diesel spill near Scottsburg in 2006.

The settlement decree, filed in federal court on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, includes a roughly $140,000 penalty against Pacific Northern Environmental Corp., of Longview, Wash., the company that owned the tanker truck carrying the diesel fuel.

The case stems from a spill that happened when a Pacific Northern tanker truck veered off state Highway 38 near Scottsburg. It rolled down the embankment and spilled about 8,200 gallons of diesel fuel into the Umpqua River and adjacent shoreline. Oregon State Police cited the driver for careless driving.

The Umpqua, designated a National Wild and Scenic River, provides habitat for Chinook salmon, coho salmon and cutthroat trout, among other species.

The proposed settlement includes a $94,272 penalty and $47,000 in a required environmental project.

In addition to the company’s response contractors, EPA and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality were on site for about a week cleaning up the spill.

Out of the fine $20,000 will go to the state for violation of the state’s oil discharge prohibition. The balance will go to the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, according to a press release.

The environmental project money will  purchase gas detectors and other equipment for the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Hazmat Teams Program.

“We realize that accidents happen, but spilling oil in and around Oregon rivers can result in penalties, regardless of cause,” said Mike Bussell, director of the Office of Compliance and Enforcement in Seattle, in the press release.

 According to EPA authorities, Pacific Northern Environmental was cooperative throughout the entire cleanup and promptly hired cleanup contractors. Roughly 1,469 tons of petroleum contaminated soil was removed from the spill site.

Pacific Northern said it spent more than $600,000 on the cleanup and mitigation efforts.

The settlement is subject to a public comment period and approval by the court before it becomes final.