On January 25, 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Region 7 (R7) On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) Duty Officer received a call from the National Response Center (NRC) reporting a release of approximately 1,500 barrels of crude oil due to a pipeline break. There was a drop in pressure at 0804, but the location of the release was not discovered until 1030. The release occurred approximately 1 mile south and .5 miles west of Maple City, Kansas, in a rural cattle pasture, less than 2 miles due north of the Oklahoma border. The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund was opened by USEPA OSC R7 Duty Officer.
On January 26, 2009, USEPA OSCs Schademann and Brunkhorst deployed to the site and met with Kyle Parker from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). The responsible party (Magellan Pipeline Company, L.P.) and their contractors had been on-site since the previous day. Upon arrival on-site, approximately 1,000 barrels of crude oil/water mixture had been recovered and was being transported via a transport truck to a refinery in El Dorado, Kansas. A large trench had been excavated to expose the ruptured pipeline. The rupture had occurred near the top of the pipe, and oil had been sprayed and then flowed down an intermittent creek. The intermittent creek flows approximately .5 miles to Shellrock Creek. Two earthen dams had been established, and no product was visible downgradient of the second dam. Crews will be working for several weeks to repair the pipeline and complete spill cleanup.
