At 0808 on February 10, 2010 Superior Crude Gathering Inc. (RP) which operates a crude distribution tank farm on the Falcon Refinery Superfund Site located at 1472 FM2725, Ingleside, San Ptrici County, TX reported a release of 1000 gallons of crude oil that occured on February 9, 2010 to the National Response Center (NRC Report 930927). The RP reported that the spill had been secured and that cleanup personnel are on-site. At 1320 on February 10, 2010 the NRC recieved a report (NRC Report 930959) from a business located within the vacinity of the Falcon Refinery, that an odor suspected to be originating from the Falcon Refinery was causing employees to feel unwell. 

Personnel from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) contacted the EPA-PRB (Prevention and Response Branch) phone duty officer and reported that the oil spill was estimated to be closer to 200 bbl (8,400 gallons) than the RP reported 1000 gallons. TCEQ also stated that they are responding to claims that odor is causing illness and conducting air monitoring. Due to th potential and significant threat to wildlife, wetlands and the Gulf f Mexico (less than 0.5 miles from the spill site) currently US Coast Guard (USCG), Texas Railroad Commission (TRRC), Texas General Land Office (TGLO), US Fish and Wildlife (USFW) and Texas Fish and Wildlife Service (TFWS) and TCEQ are responding to the incident.    

The EPA and their START-3 (Superfund Technical Assessment Response Team) contractor arrived at the Falcon Refinery at 1830 on February10, 2010, integrating into the ICS with other responding state and federal agencies. Upon arrival it had been determined that the amount of spilled oil was closer to 22,000 bbl.

1.1.2.1 Location
1472 FM2725, Ingleside, San Patricio County, Texas

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Potential of 24,000 barrels of crude oil discharging into Red Fish Bay, to the Intracoastal Waterway, and then the Gulf of Mexico. 

EPA OSC Ruhl and START-3 mobilized to the Superior Gathering Oil Spill located on the former Falcon Refinery Superfund Site at 1472 FM 2725, Ingleside, San Patricio County, TX on February 10, 2010 and arrived on-site at 1830 hours on February 10, 2010. EPA integrated into the ICS with US Coast Guard (USCG), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ),  Texas Rail Road Commission (TRRC), Texas General Land Office (TGLO), US Fish and Wildlife (USFW) and Texas Fish and Wildlife Service (TFWS).   

Superior Crude Gathering Inc. leases three above ground storage tanks on the Falcon Refinery Tank Farm Superfund site that are used to hold crude oil that is transported by tanker trucks from South Texas and loaded onto barge for transport to refineries.  At approximately 1600 on February 9, 2010 one of the three tanks (Tank 13) failed due to mechanical failure, releasing approximately 22,000 bbl of crude oil into secondary containment.  The configuration of the secondary containment for adjacent tanks and a network of abandoned utility lines facilitated the movement of the crude oil down gradient and into a fresh water pond located immediately east of the facility.  The discharge of oil into the wetland was not discovered until the afternoon of February 10, 2010.  Once discovered the RP used soil to secure the release.

Superior Crude Gathering Inc. began transferring the remaining 30,000 bbl of crude oil from the failed Tank 13 into a second above ground storage tank (Tank 15) to limit the amount of oil spilled. At approximately 0945 on February 10, 2010 Tank 15 failed and released contents into secondary containment. The spilled oil breached the secondary containment through a storm drain and traveled down gradient through a storm water channel and into the freshwater pond and wetland.

It is estimated that a total of 2,000 bbl of crude oil breached secondary containment from the two tanks and entered the freshwater pond and the wetland.

RESPONSE ACTIVITIES:

Crude Oil Transfer:

The RP has mobilized three barges believed to be sufficient to remove the remaining oil from Tanks 13 and 15.  One barge (Moc VI) arrived on February 11, 2010.  The RP transferred approximately 23,000 barrels of oil from Tank 13 to the Moc VI.  The barge is to remain at the dock and be utilized as “floating storage”.   The other two barges (Moc VII, Moc XII) are expected to arrive the afternoon of February 12, 2010.   The total capacity of all the barges is 63,500 barrels.  It is believed that this will allow sufficient storage within Tank 16 for oil that has been recovered during spill cleanup.

Oil Spill Cleanup:

The RP has 15 cleanup personnel on-site.  Equipment on site includes six vacuum trucks, five frac tanks, three drum skimmers, one track hoe and one bobcat.  There has been 1,100 feet of hard boom deployed across the fresh water pond.  Cleanup crews are focusing on removing heaviest concentrations of oil within the containments, and oil that had been collected with the booms on the fresh water pond.  Vacuum trailers are being utilized to recover oil from the fresh water pond, the oil and water mixed is then transferred to staged on-site temporary storage tanks (Frac Tanks).  Once the oil has separated from the water, vacuum trailers are used to recover the water from the bottom of the tank.  Water is then transported off-site for treatment and disposal.  The RP is conducting 24-hour operations.

Air Monitoring:

TCEQ conducted air monitoring around the Falcon Refinery on February 10, 2010 using a four gas meter configured with Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) sensors.TCEQ reported air monitoring results as non-detect.  EPA assumed air monitoring during response activities on February 11, 2010 establishing five 24-hour remote air monitoring stations at local residences and businesses using RAE System AreaRAE units configured with H₂S and VOC sensors.  In addition, air monitoring was conducted at the spill site using a Toxic Vapor Analyzer (TVA-1000), Draeger CMS chipped for Benzene and a four gas meter configured with H₂S and VOC sensors.  TCEQ and EPA are responding to odor complaints from residents but have not detected any concentrations above background levels.  

Wildlife Impact:

The USFW and TPW have personnel on-site.  They have been providing input into oil spill recovery efforts.  Five oiled-birds have been captured and transported to a rehabilitation facility.  All are expected to survive.  Scare cannons have been placed strategically throughout the facility to prevent additional birds from coming into contact with the oil.  Approximately 200 dead fish (sheepshead minnow and striped mullet) have been observed.   

The RP will continue oil transfer and oil spill cleanup operations.

TCEQ, TGLO, TRRC, TPW, USCG, USFW, and EPA have representatives on site and are contributing to the cleanup of the oil spill. 

OSC Ruhl has coordinated with EPA OSC Moore, RPM Allen, RPM Casanova, Attorney Moran-Small about potential implications of the site being designated as a Superfund site on the oil spill operations.

There is a small amount of oil located in a remote, logistically challenging area within the wetland.  Unified command is determining best method of removing the oil.  One potential option is an in situ burn.  All options will be evaluated; the RRT will be convened if preferred method of mitigation is in situ burn.