Martin Operating Partnership in Smackover, Union County, Arkansas and their oil recovery contractors continue their efforts to remove the oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek.

Here’s what happened and what’s being done:

• Response actions: An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) On Scene Coordinator arrived on June 17 to evaluate the response activities. EPA has implemented Unified Command along with Martin Operating Partnership (responsible party) and Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to streamline response efforts.
• Cleanup progress: As of June 29, the responsible party continues to bring in resources, equipment, and personnel to expedite the recovery of oil from Smackover Creek and Holmes Creek. Currently 1,326 barrels of crude oil have been recovered to date. In addition to the liquids recovered from the creeks, an approximate total of 300 cubic yards of oil impacted solid waste has been removed.
• Ongoing efforts: The EPA and other Arkansas state agencies continue to assess the incident and the response activities related to the oil. The responsible party is using specialized equipment to remove oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek. Additional actions are being taken to prevent the oil from traveling further downstream in the case of implement weather. Vegetation clearing activities within Holmes Creek are ongoing to allow personnel and equipment to access new areas of the creek. Wildlife Rescue Services are onsite to address impacted wildlife in the area due to the oil spill.
• The response team currently consists of approximately 172 personnel actively engaged in the oil spill response, approximately 52 command and general staff.
• Construction of a berm surrounding the initial location of the oil spill and the spring water is being diverted to keep the natural flow of the creek.
• The amount of oily product in the impacted sites has significantly decreased and drum skimmers are no longer needed in many areas.
• Vac trucks are still being utilized along the affected areas.

 Who’s involved? The cleanup is a joint effort between the EPA, state environmental and emergency agencies, and the responsible party.

• Collaborating Agencies
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
• Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (ADEE)
• Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM)
• Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)
• Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)
• Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC)

What can you do? Stay informed by visiting the Notices section of the response site, follow local news, and heed any instructions from local authorities regarding safety or environmental precautions.

Martin Operating Partnership in Smackover, Union County, Arkansas and their oil recovery contractors continue their efforts to remove the oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek.

Here’s what happened and what’s being done:

• Response actions: An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) On Scene Coordinator arrived on June 17 to evaluate the response activities. EPA has implemented Unified Command along with Martin Operating Partnership (responsible party) and Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to streamline response efforts.
• Cleanup progress: As of June 28, the responsible party continues to bring in resources, equipment, and personnel to expedite the recovery of oil from Smackover Creek and Holmes Creek. Martin Operating Partnership has recovered approximately 5,247 barrels of oil-water mixture from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek to date. The oil-water mixture is separated out to give a better estimation of the actual amount of crude oil recovered. Currently 1,326 barrels of crude oil have been recovered to date. In addition to the liquids recovered from the creeks, an approximate total of 225 cubic yards of oil impacted solid waste has been removed.
• Ongoing efforts: The EPA and other Arkansas state agencies continue to assess the incident and the response activities related to the oil. The responsible party is using specialized equipment to remove oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek. Additional actions are being taken to prevent the oil from traveling further downstream in the case of implement weather. Vegetation clearing activities within Holmes Creek are ongoing to allow personnel and equipment to access new areas of the creek. Wildlife Rescue Services are onsite to address impacted wildlife in the area due to the oil spill.
• The response team currently consists of approximately 172 personnel actively engaged in the oil spill response, approximately 52 command and general staff.

 Who’s involved? The cleanup is a joint effort between the EPA, state environmental and emergency agencies, and the responsible party.

• Collaborating Agencies
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
• Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (ADEE)
• Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM)
• Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)
• Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)
• Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC)

What can you do? Stay informed by visiting the Notices section of the response site, follow local news, and heed any instructions from local authorities regarding safety or environmental precautions.

Martin Operating Partnership in Smackover, Union County, Arkansas and their oil recovery contractors continue their efforts to remove the oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek.

Here’s what happened and what’s being done:

• Response actions: An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) On Scene Coordinator arrived on June 17 to evaluate the response activities. EPA has implemented Unified Command along with Martin Operating Partnership (responsible party) and Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to streamline response efforts.
• Cleanup progress: As of June 27, the responsible party continues to bring in resources, equipment, and personnel to expedite the recovery of oil from Smackover Creek and Holmes Creek. Martin Operating Partnership has recovered approximately 5,044 barrels of oil-water mixture from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek to date. The oil-water mixture is separated out to give a better estimation of the actual amount of crude oil recovered. Currently 1,326 barrels of crude oil have been recovered to date. In addition to the liquids recovered from the creeks, approximately 175 cubic yards of oil impacted solid waste has been removed.
• Ongoing efforts: The EPA and other Arkansas state agencies continue to assess the incident and the response activities related to the oil. The responsible party is using specialized equipment to remove oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek. Additional actions are being taken to prevent the oil from traveling further downstream in the case of implement weather. Vegetation clearing activities within Holmes Creek are ongoing to allow personnel and equipment to access new areas of the creek. Wildlife Rescue Services are onsite to address impacted wildlife in the area due to the oil spill.
• The response team currently consists of approximately 247 personnel actively engaged in the oil spill response, approximately 51 command and general staff.
• Unified Command reached a consensus to discontinue community air monitoring, following consecutive days without detections surpassing the thresholds of air monitoring equipment.

 Who’s involved? The cleanup is a joint effort between the EPA, state environmental and emergency agencies, and the responsible party.

• Collaborating Agencies
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
• Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (ADEE)
• Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM)
• Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)
• Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)
• Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC)

What can you do? Stay informed by visiting the Notices section of the response site, follow local news, and heed any instructions from local authorities regarding safety or environmental precautions.

Martin Operating Partnership in Smackover, Union County, Arkansas and their oil recovery contractors continue their efforts to remove the oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek.

Here’s what happened and what’s being done:

• Response actions: An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) On Scene Coordinator arrived on June 17 to evaluate the response activities. EPA has implemented Unified Command along with Martin Operating Partnership (responsible party) and Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to streamline response efforts.
• Cleanup progress: As of June 25, the responsible party continues to bring in resources, equipment, and personnel to expedite the recovery of oil from Smackover Creek and Holmes Creek. Martin Operating Partnership has recovered approximately 4,415 barrels of oil-water mixture from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek to date. The oil-water mixture is separated out to give a better estimation of the actual amount of crude oil recovered. Currently 1,326 barrels of crude oil have been recovered to date. In addition to the liquids recovered from the creeks, approximately 100 cubic yards of oil impacted solid waste has been removed.
• Ongoing efforts: The EPA and other Arkansas state agencies continue to assess the incident and the response activities related to the oil. The responsible party is using specialized equipment to remove oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek. Additional actions are being taken to prevent the oil from traveling further downstream in the case of implement weather. Vegetation clearing activities within Holmes Creek are ongoing to allow personnel and equipment to access new areas of the creek. Wildlife Rescue Services are onsite to address impacted wildlife in the area due to the oil spill.
• The response team currently consists of approximately 266 personnel actively engaged in the oil spill response, approximately 36 command and general staff.
• The responsible party has revised the estimated volume of the crude release upwards, from 2,000 barrels to 2,500 barrels. 

 Who’s involved? The cleanup is a joint effort between the EPA, state environmental and emergency agencies, and the responsible party.

• Collaborating Agencies
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
• Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (ADEE)
• Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM)
• Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)
• Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)
• Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC)

What can you do? Stay informed by visiting the Notices section of the response site, follow local news, and heed any instructions from local authorities regarding safety or environmental precautions.

Martin Operating Partnership in Smackover, Union County, Arkansas and their oil recovery contractors continue their efforts to remove the oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek.

Here’s what happened and what’s being done:

• Response actions: An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) On Scene Coordinator arrived on June 17 to evaluate the response activities. EPA has implemented Unified Command along with Martin Operating Partnership (responsible party) and Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to streamline response efforts.
• Cleanup progress: As of June 24, the responsible party continues to bring in resources, equipment, and personnel to expedite the recovery of oil from Smackover Creek and Holmes Creek. Martin Operating Partnership has recovered approximately 4,292 barrels of oil-water mixture from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek to date. The oil-water mixture is separated out to give a better estimation of the actual amount of crude oil recovered. Currently 1,326 barrels of crude oil have been recovered to date. In addition to the liquids recovered from the creeks, approximately 50 cubic yards of oil impacted solid waste has been removed.
• Ongoing efforts: The EPA and other Arkansas state agencies continue to assess the incident and the response activities related to the oil. The responsible party is using specialized equipment to remove oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek. Additional actions are being taken to prevent the oil from traveling further downstream in the case of implement weather. Vegetation clearing activities within Holmes Creek are ongoing to allow personnel and equipment to access new areas of the creek. Wildlife Rescue Services are onsite to address impacted wildlife in the area due to the oil spill.
• The response team currently consists of approximately 266 personnel actively engaged in the oil spill response, approximately 36 command and general staff.

 Who’s involved? The cleanup is a joint effort between the EPA, state environmental and emergency agencies, and the responsible party.

• Collaborating Agencies
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
• Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (ADEE)
• Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM)
• Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)
• Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)
• Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC)

What can you do? Stay informed by visiting the Notices section of the response site, follow local news, and heed any instructions from local authorities regarding safety or environmental precautions.

Martin Operating Partnership in Smackover, Union County, Arkansas and their oil recovery contractors continue their efforts to remove the oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek.

Here’s what happened and what’s being done:

• Response actions: An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) On Scene Coordinator arrived on June 17 to evaluate the response activities. EPA has implemented Unified Command along with Martin Operating Partnership (responsible party) and Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to streamline response efforts.
• Cleanup progress: As of June 23, the responsible party continues to bring in resources, equipment, and personnel to expedite the recovery of oil from Smackover Creek and Holmes Creek. Additional resources were placed at the confluence of Smackover Creek and Ouachita River to prevent sheen from reaching the Ouachita River. Martin Operating Partnership has recovered approximately 4,097 barrels of oil-water mixture from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek to date. The oil-water mixture is separated out to give a better estimation of the actual amount of crude oil recovered. Currently 1,256 barrels of crude oil have been recovered to date. In addition to the liquids recovered from the creeks, approximately 50 cubic yards of oil impacted solid waste has been removed.
• Ongoing efforts: The EPA and other Arkansas state agencies continue to assess the incident and the response activities related to the oil. The responsible party is using specialized equipment to remove oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek. Additional actions are being taken to prevent the oil from traveling further downstream in the case of implement weather. Vegetation clearing activities within Holmes Creek are ongoing to allow personnel and equipment to access new areas of the creek. Wildlife Rescue Services are onsite to address impacted wildlife in the area due to the oil spill.
• The response team currently consists of approximately 275 personnel actively engaged in the oil spill response. Additional personnel are anticipated to join the efforts as needed to further support the ongoing operations.
• Eight (8) U.S. Coast Guard National Strike Force personnel arrived at to support EPA onsite operations with continual assessment of response activities related to the oil spill.

 Who’s involved? The cleanup is a joint effort between the EPA, state environmental and emergency agencies, and the responsible party.

• Collaborating Agencies
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
• Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (ADEE)
• Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM)
• Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)
• Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)
• Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC)

What can you do? Stay informed by visiting the Notices section of the response site, follow local news, and heed any instructions from local authorities regarding safety or environmental precautions.

Martin Operating Partnership in Smackover, Union County, Arkansas and their oil recovery contractors continue their efforts to remove the oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek.

Here’s what happened and what’s being done:

• Response actions: An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) On Scene Coordinator arrived on June 17 to evaluate the response activities. EPA has implemented Unified Command along with Martin Operating Partnership (responsible party) and Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to streamline response efforts.
• Cleanup progress: As of June 22, the responsible party continues to bring in resources, equipment, and personnel to expedite the recovery of oil from Smackover Creek and Holmes Creek. Additional resources were placed at the confluence of Smackover Creek and Ouachita River to prevent sheen from reaching the Ouachita River. Martin Operating Partnership has recovered approximately 3,700 barrels of oil-water mixture from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek to date. The oil-water mixture is separated out to give a better estimation of the actual amount of crude oil recovered. Currently 1,176 barrels of crude oil have been recovered to date. In addition to the liquids recovered from the creeks, approximately 50 cubic yards of oil impacted solid waste has been removed.
• Ongoing efforts: The EPA and other Arkansas state agencies continue to assess the incident and the response activities related to the oil. The responsible party is using specialized equipment to remove oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek. Additional actions are being taken to prevent the oil from traveling further downstream in the case of implement weather. Vegetation clearing activities within Holmes Creek are ongoing to allow personnel and equipment to access new areas of the creek. Wildlife Rescue Services are onsite to address impacted wildlife in the area due to the oil spill.
• The response team currently consists of approximately 275 personnel actively engaged in the oil spill response. Additional personnel are anticipated to join the efforts as needed to further support the ongoing operations.

 Who’s involved? The cleanup is a joint effort between the EPA, state environmental and emergency agencies, and the responsible party.

• Collaborating Agencies
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
• Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (ADEE)
• Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM)
• Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)
• Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)
• Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC)

What can you do? Stay informed by visiting the Notices section of the response site, follow local news, and heed any instructions from local authorities regarding safety or environmental precautions.

Martin Operating Partnership in Smackover, Union County, Arkansas and their oil recovery contractors continue their efforts to remove the oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek.

Here’s what happened and what’s being done:

• Response actions: An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) On Scene Coordinator arrived on June 17 to evaluate the response activities. EPA has implemented Unified Command along with Martin Operating Partnership (responsible party) and Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to streamline response efforts.
• Cleanup progress: As of June 21, the responsible party continues to bring in resources, equipment, and personnel to expedite the recovery of oil from Smackover Creek and Holmes Creek. Additional resources were placed at the confluence of Smackover Creek and Ouachita River to prevent sheen from reaching the Ouachita River. Martin Operating Partnership has recovered approximately 3,665 barrels of oil-water mixture from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek to date. The oil-water mixture is separated out to give a better estimation of the actual amount of crude oil recovered. Currently 1,176 barrels of crude oil have been recovered to date.
• Ongoing efforts: The EPA and other Arkansas state agencies continue to assess the incident and the response activities related to the oil. The responsible party is using specialized equipment to remove oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek. Additional actions are being taken to prevent the oil from traveling further downstream in the case of implement weather. Vegetation clearing activities within Holmes Creek are ongoing to allow personnel and equipment to access new areas of the creek. Wildlife Rescue Services are onsite to address impacted wildlife in the area due to the oil spill.
• The response team currently consists of approximately 201 personnel actively engaged in the oil spill response. An additional 50 personnel are expected to join the efforts on June 22, 2024, to further support the ongoing operations.
• Matthew Shepherd, the State Speaker of the House, visited the command post and received a comprehensive briefing on the current response efforts, progress metrics, and the activities planned for the future.

 Who’s involved? The cleanup is a joint effort between the EPA, state environmental and emergency agencies, and the responsible party.

• Collaborating Agencies
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
• Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (ADEE)
• Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM)
• Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)
• Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)
• Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC)

What can you do? Stay informed by visiting the Notices section of the response site, follow local news, and heed any instructions from local authorities regarding safety or environmental precautions.

Martin Operating Partnership in Smackover, Union County, Arkansas and their oil recovery contractors continue their efforts to remove the oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek.

Here’s what happened and what’s being done:

• Response actions: An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) On Scene Coordinator arrived on June 17 to evaluate the response activities. EPA has implemented Unified Command along with Martin Operating Partnership (responsible party) and Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to streamline response efforts.
• Cleanup progress: As of June 20, the responsible party continues to bring in resources, equipment, and personnel to expedite the recovery of oil from Smackover Creek and Holmes Creek. Additional resources were placed at the confluence of Smackover Creek and Ouachita River to prevent sheen from reaching the Ouachita River. Martin Operating Partnership has recovered approximately 3264 barrels of oil-water mixture from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek to date. The oil-water mixture is separated out to give a better estimation of the actual amount of crude oil recovered. Currently 1,101 barrels of crude oil have been recovered to date.
• Ongoing efforts: The EPA and other Arkansas state agencies continue to assess the incident and the response activities related to the oil. The responsible party is using specialized equipment to remove oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek. Additional actions are being taken to prevent the oil from traveling further downstream in the case of implement weather. Vegetation clearing activities within Holmes Creek are ongoing to allow personnel and equipment to access new areas of the creek. Wildlife Rescue Services are onsite to address impacted wildlife in the area due to the oil spill.

 Who’s involved? The cleanup is a joint effort between the EPA, state environmental and emergency agencies, and the responsible party.

• Collaborating Agencies
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
• Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (ADEE)
• Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM)
• Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)
• Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)
• Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC)

What can you do? Stay informed by visiting the Notices section of the response site, follow local news, and heed any instructions from local authorities regarding safety or environmental precautions.

Martin Operating Partnership in Smackover, Union County, Arkansas and their oil recovery contractors continue their efforts to remove the oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek.

Here’s what happened and what’s being done:

• Response actions: An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) On Scene Coordinator arrived on June 17 to evaluate the response activities. EPA has implemented Unified Command along with Martin Operating Partnership (responsible party) and Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to streamline response efforts.
• Cleanup progress: As of June 19, the responsible party continues to bring in resources, equipment, and personnel to expedite the recovery of oil from Smackover Creek and Holmes Creek. Additional resources were placed at the confluence of Smackover Creek and Ouachita River to prevent sheen from reaching the Ouachita River. Martin Operating Partnership has recovered approximately 2407 barrels of oil-water mixture from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek to date. The oil-water mixture is separated out to give a better estimation of the actual amount of crude oil recovered. Currently 539 barrels of crude oil have been recovered to date.
• Ongoing efforts: The EPA and other Arkansas state agencies continue to assess the incident and the response activities related to the oil. The responsible party is using specialized equipment to remove oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek. Additional actions are being taken to prevent the oil from traveling further downstream in the case of implement weather. Vegetation clearing activities within Holmes Creek are ongoing to allow personnel and equipment to access new areas of the creek. Wildlife Rescue Services are onsite to address impacted wildlife in the area due to the oil spill.

Who’s involved? The cleanup is a joint effort between the EPA, state environmental and emergency agencies, and the responsible party.

• State Agencies
  • Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (ADEE)
  • Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM)
  • Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)
  • Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
  • Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC)

What can you do? Stay informed by visiting the Notices section of the response site, follow local news, and heed any instructions from local authorities regarding safety or environmental precautions.

On June 15, 2024, an oil spill was reported from a pipeline owned by Martin Operating Partnership in Smackover, Union County, Arkansas. The spill released an estimated 2,000 barrels of crude oil.

Here’s what happened and what’s being done:

• When it happened: The spill is believed to have occurred on June 14, 2024.
• How it was discovered: The spill was found the next day in the afternoon and immediately reported to the authorities.
• Response actions: An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) On Scene Coordinator arrived on June 17 to evaluate the response activities. EPA is working with the company responsible for the spill and state officials to continue response activities.
• Cleanup progress: By June 16, the company responsible had secured several response teams and has recovered approximately 1,600 barrels of an oil-water mix and 300 barrels of crude oil to date.
• Ongoing efforts: On June 18, the EPA and other Arkansas state agencies continued to assess the incident and the response activities related to the oil, the responsible party is using special equipment to remove oil from Holmes Creek and Smackover Creek.

The EPA is working closely with the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, and the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission to manage the spill and its effects.

What’s being done now? Cleanup crews are using tools like drum skimmers and vacuum trucks to remove the oil from the affected waterways.

Who’s involved? The cleanup is a joint effort between the EPA, state environmental and emergency agencies, and the company that owns the pipeline.

What can you do? Stay informed by visiting the Notices section of the response site, follow local news, and heed any instructions from local authorities regarding safety or environmental precautions.