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Site Description 4/4/2018 Background
On April 4, 2018 EPA received a call from Utah authorities
about a semi-trailer truck crash in Wasatch County, UT that resulted in a
tanker fire on US 40. The tanker was reportedly carrying 85 barrels
(3,570 gallons) of crude oil. The initial response team reported that most of the oil
burned in the fire, however an unknown amount was released into Chicken Creek
and Strawberry Reservoir.
Initial Response 4/9/2018 Background
Local and State responders, along with Responsible Party contractors, conducted the Initial Response phase of this incident. Responders from Wasatch county Fire Protection, Wasatch County Health, and Utah Department of Transportation combined resources to mitigate the threat of oil migrating along Chicken Creek into the Strawberry Reservoir. They utilized materials on-hand at the UDOT facility near the crash - namely sand, pallets, and absorbents - to attempt to contain the spilled material at the crash site and to create makeshift control points to collect the solidified oil as it moved down Chicken Creek. These efforts were largely effective given the conditions, and should be credited with preventing a substantial amount of crude oil from reaching the reservoir. The Utah Water Quality Division of the Department of Environmental Quality also responded and obtained water samples.
Response Objectives 4/4/2018 OPS Period 1
1. Determine extent of spill and area that has been impacted.
2. Contain and recover oil released from the tanker truck.
Response Operations 4/4/2018 OPS Period 1
Movement of oil has been halted with the deployment of skirt boom and sorbent pads. EPA deployed an On-Scene Coordinator to the spill location
on April 4th to help coordinate an ongoing environmental assessment
and response activities.The Wasatch County Health Department, local Fire
Department, and The State of Utah’s Water Quality Division have all been
notified. Information is still being gathered, but EPA does not believe that there are
affected users or threats to drinking water or recreational activities to Strawberry Reservoir.
Planned Response Activities 4/4/2018 OPS Period 1
The response team will perform a full reconnaissance of the area and maintain oil collection activities.
Response Objectives 4/6/2018 OPS Period 2
1. Maintain positive control of the spill through the forecasted storms this weekend.
2. Continue to recover product from the creek system and crash site.
Response Operations 4/6/2018 OPS Period 2
Flow of the spilled oil has been stopped and achieved through a series of filter fences which act as a precautionary measure for forecasted storms. Prior to installation of the fences, small amounts of product could still be seen moving through the creek towards the reservoir. The filter fences have nearly eliminated this movement, and product recovery operations continue in Chicken Creek.
Planned Response Activities 4/6/2018 OPS Period 2
Maintain positive control of the spill until all recoverable oil has been removed from the creek and crash site. The Wasatch County will take the lead on oversight of the work under a Pollution Reduction Funding Agreement after April 6, 2018.
Response Objectives 4/9/2018 OPS Period 3
1. Continue recovery/removal efforts to remove spilled oil from the creek and adjoining shorelines.
2. Maintain filter fences to prevent movement of oil and sediments generated by the cleanup.
3.) Excavate / back-fill / reclaim crash site as necessary and required by the State.
Response Operations 4/9/2018 OPS Period 3
Under the oversight of the local health department and guidance from the On-Scene Coordinator, the Responsible Party's (RP) contractor will continue to recover and remove spilled oil from the creek and adjoining shorelines. They will also maintain the filter fences throughout the remainder of the cleanup to mitigate the migration of sand placed as emergency containment by DOT crews. These filter structures will be removed once any state-directed excavation of the crash-site has been completed and proper erosion-prevention Best Management Practices have been installed.
Planned Response Actions 4/9/2018 OPS Period 3
This will be the final operational period, which will end when the OSC determines that federal Clean Water Act endpoints have been achieved and there is no further threat to Waters of the United States.
