7/6/22 Update
On Friday, July 1, EPA transitioned daily oversight of the
oil spill response to the state. Boom maintenance and monitoring, and recovery
of oil and sheen as needed continue on the Flint River.
EPA, EGLE and the Lockhart Chemical Company have determined
the cause of the oil spill. The breach has been isolated so no further releases
can occur while an evaluation for repair is underway.
6/24/22 Update
EPA air monitoring in residential areas,
along the river and at the outfall after results have continued to show no VOC
exceedances. EPA will continue air monitoring at the Lockhart Chemical Company
facility as the company continues to locate the source of the spill, with EPA
and EGLE oversight.
6/22/22 Update
Visual assessments and water sample data show most of the
oil that impacted the Flint River has been removed by the potentially
responsible party. EPA will oversee the removal of some downstream boom no
longer needed and the placement of new boom near the Utah Dam.
EPA continues to conduct air monitoring along the river and
in residential areas with results showing no exceedances. EPA is working with
EGLE and the Lockhart Chemical Company to determine the cause of the oil spill.
6/21/22 Update
EPA continues to conduct air monitoring along the river and
in residential areas with results showing no exceedances. After a morning
assessment, yesterday’s rain event did not impact the spill response. EPA
continues to oversee the oil cleanup in the river and at the outfall. EPA
and EGLE also continue to oversee the Lockhart Chemical Company’s investigation
into the cause of the oil spill.
6/20/22 Update
EPA continues to conduct air monitoring along the river and
in residential areas with results showing no exceedances. During Sunday’s
downstream river assessment, EPA identified 10 spots where oil had collected.
Today, EPA oversaw the cleanup of oil along Flint River. EPA and EGLE will
oversee the Lockhart Chemical Company’s investigation into the cause of the oil
spill.
6/19/22 Update
Unified Command remains in-place at the site to continue
operations to clean up and address the oil spill. EPA continues air monitoring
along the river and in residential areas and detected no exceedances overnight.
Today, EPA will also assess the river downstream of the
first booming location to determine whether any oil product has accumulated.
6/18/22
Update
A Unified Command comprised of the city of Flint, Genesee County,
state of Michigan (EGLE) and EPA continues to oversee the spill cleanup. EPA
continues to conduct air monitoring along the river and in residential areas.
Air monitoring results continue to show no exceedances of volatile organic
compounds along the river or in residential areas. Today’s air monitoring shows
minimal VOC detections at the outfall.
All visible oil from the outfall is
being contained and recovered and is no longer entering the river. EPA assisted
the state in its investigation of the source of the spill. EGLE has
determined the potentially responsible party for the spill is Lockhart Chemical Company.
6/17/22 Update
A Unified Command
has been established to oversee the spill cleanup that includes: the city of
Flint, Genesee County, the state of Michigan (EGLE) and EPA. EPA continues its role to provide technical assistance in
the form of air monitoring and air sampling both along the river and in
residential areas as well as water sampling in the river. EPA is also assisting
the state in its investigation of the source of the spill and providing
oversight of the cleanup.
Yesterday and
overnight, air monitoring results showed no exceedances of volatile organic
compounds along the river or in residential areas. However, ambient air
monitoring did show elevated VOCs within the storm sewer and at the outfall.
6/16/22 Update
EPA continues to work with local and state responders to
determine the source of the spill. The Flint Fire Department is still the lead
agency overseeing the spill cleanup. A local chemical company, identified as a
potentially responsible party, has hired contractors to continue the
cleanup and recovery efforts.
Overnight, EPA continued to conduct air monitoring and
sampling along the river. Air monitoring results have shown no exceedances of
volatile organic compounds in or around the river or in residential areas.
Background
On June 15, local and state responders discovered an oil sheen on
the Flint River. The Flint Fire Department is the lead agency responding to the
spill. The Michigan Environment, Great Lakes and Energy requested EPA
assistance and responders arrived on the scene late evening. EPA began water
and oil sampling to determine the source of the spill at the stormwater outfall
to the river. EPA also began air monitoring and sampling at downstream dams (Hamilton
and Utah). Immediate air monitoring showed no detections of volatile organic
compounds, or VOCs, above background levels off-site other than in the
immediate area around the source outfall to the river.
