U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Chocolate Bayou Oil Spill - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VI
Subject: POLREP #1
Initial
Chocolate Bayou Oil Spill
V6LM
Port Lavaca, TX
Latitude: 28.5769805 Longitude: -96.7021367

To:
From: Adam Adams, OSC
Date: 5/18/2010
Reporting Period: Initial Emergency Response Action

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: V6LM    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: OPA    Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead: PRP    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 5/17/2010    Start Date: 5/17/2010
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#: E10629    Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

    Incident is an emergency response action for an oil spill impacting a Chocolate Bayou with a potential for impact to the downgradient Lavaca Bay.

1.1.2 Site Description
              

    The EPA dispatched START contractors to an oil spill near Port Lavaca, Texas on May 17, 2010.  Formation Resources LLC is the Responsible Party (RP) that operates the tank battery and source of the oil spilled.  On May 17, 2010 at approximately 0845, 300 barrels of oil from a storage tank was discovered spilled due to equipment failure at the tank battery.  The oil impacted a drainage ditch, which flows to Aqua Dulce Creek, which flows to Chocolate Bayou which flows into Lavaca Bay.  Chocolate Bayou was impacted, but the spill does not appear to have reached Lavaca Bay.  The NRC was notified on May 17, 2010 (NRC # 940488) by an anonymous caller.  The RP cleanup contractors, PMIC and Jones and Allen, arrived onsite on May 17, 2010 at approximately 1245.  Agencies represented onsite include TGLO, TCEQ, RRC, USCG, and USEPA.

1.1.2.1 Location
         
    The tank battery and source of the oil spill is located at 28 degrees 35' 25.00" North and 96 degrees 43' 51.70" West just west of Port Lavaca, Texas.  The downgradient most recovery point is located at 28 degrees 34' 39.35" North and 96 degrees 42' 8.80" West.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
 
    Incident threat is an approximate 300 barrel Crude Oil Impact to Aqua Dulce Creek, and Chocolate Bayou with a potential impact to the Lavaca Bay.
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
   

2.1.1 Narrative

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

    EPA OSC Adams and the START-3 contractor arrived onsite in the evening of May 17, 2010.  Activities onsite on May 17, 2010 include deploying containment and absorbent boom along the spill pathway at three key recovery locations and initializing skimming activities with two drum skimmers.  Three vacuum trucks and two drum skimmers are being utilized for recovery operations continuously from the start of the response effort.  The first containment boom location is approximately ¼ mile down gradient from the initial spill and is located in a drainage ditch.  The second containment boom location is at Sweetwater Road Bridge approximately 1 ½ miles from the spill location in the impacted creek.  The third containment boom location is at Matson Road Bridge approximately 3 miles from the spill location.  Initial and primary recovery operations were conducted at the 3rd boom location.  On the morning of May 18, 2010 collection activities began to shift to the first boom location, prior to creek impact.  Recovery operations are continuing at the Matson Road Bridge as well as the most upgradient containment boom location pre-creek impact.  As of 1330 on May 18, 2010, approximately 170 barrels of Crude Oil have been recovered, which has been returned to the system.  The RP has approximately 12 contracted personnel onsite.  TGLO is also assisting the RP with recovery operations and direct response oversight.  While onsite, EPA START contractors conducted an SPCC inspection at the tank battery at the point of offsite impact by the Crude Oil. 

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
   
    Formation Resources LLC is the RP for the Crude Oil impact to the ditch, creek, and Chocolate Bayou.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

    All recovered fluids are being managed by the RP and being returned to the tank battery for processing.
  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

    The RP will continue to conduct cleanup activities until the spill has been completed under the supervision of TGLO. 

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
 
    EPA may conduct a site visit towards the final stages of the response efforts.   

  2.3 Logistics Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer


2.6 Liaison Officer


2.7 Information Officer
    Details and further information about the incident and response efforts can be found at www.epaosc.org/ChocolateBayou.

3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command


3.2 Cooperating Agencies
    Agencies on-site include USEPA, USCG, TGLO, TCEQ, and the RRC.

4. Personnel On Site
      Beyond the cooperating agencies, additional personnel on-site include on those contractors operating for the RP.

5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.
6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
    Details and further information about the incident and response efforts can be found at www.epaosc.org/ChocolateBayou.

6.2 Reporting Schedule
7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.