EPA received a report from the National Response Center (NRC) as well as a request for assistance from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) Division of Water Resources Asheville Regional Office to respond to a spill of an unknown amount of gasoline into the Cheoah River from an unknown source. Residents that initially reported the spill were complaining of strong gasoline odors, nausea, burning eyes and throat. NC DEQ Water Resources staff responded and documented several seep areas along the left descending bank stretching for approximately 1/4 of a mile. The seep areas extended from just upstream of the Sweetwater Road Bridge that crosses the Cheoah River to Patton Street.
There is a public drinking water intake downstream of the spill that services the town of Robbinsville, NC. Notifications were made and the water intake was shut down. The town of Robbinsville has another water intake on a different watershed as well as some water wells that can meet the drinking water supply for the public demand.
Graham County Health Department and Emergency Management went door to door advising the public of the situation and offering alternative shelter to those that requested to be relocated due to strong vapors/odors. Two families accepted the offer; one family consisted of two adults and one child; the other family consisted of one adult and two children, both families resided on Patton Street in close proximity to the Cheoah River.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife was notified; EPA was informed that there is a endangered mussel located downstream of the spill location.
EPA mobilized START and ERRS contractors to conduct air monitoring, water sampling, and containment of the gasoline.
