U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
US Oil Recovery - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VI

Subject: POLREP #7
Progress Report - Incident #2
US Oil Recovery
A6X7
Pasadena, TX
Latitude: 29.7177400 Longitude: -95.2210530


To:
From: Adam Adams, OSC
Date: 11/18/2010
Reporting Period: 11/13/2010 - 11/24/2010

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: A6X7    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 11/8/2010    Start Date: 11/9/2010
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:


1.1.1 Incident Category

Emergency Response/Emergency Removal Action

1.1.2 Site Description

US Oil Recovery is located on approximately 13 acres of land just north of the City of Pasadena, Texas north of Texas Highway 225.  US Oil Recovery performed municipal and industrial wastewater pretreatment of Class I and Class II wastewater, characteristically hazardous waste, used oil and oily sludges, and municipal solid waste. 

1.1.2.1 Location

US Oil Recovery is located at 400 N. Richey, Pasadena, Harris County, Texas 77506. 

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Separate incident from the response conducted in July 2010.  HCPHES  notified the National Response Center (NRC Report No.959001) to report a release of waste water from an unknown source at the facility. Drainage is primarily to the north and to the west, both directly flowing into Vince Bayou, approximately 100 feet from the property line.  NRC notifed the EPA.  Upon notification an EPA OSC and START-3 mobilized to the site to conduct a Tier 1 response on 11/08/2010.

Materials at the facility include solids, liquids, and sludges with hazardous characteristics that include flammables and corrosives.  Assessment sampling from the July incident also indicated acetone, benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene in some of the facility containments.  The north and south tank farm secondary containments and several sumps and bays at the facility have historically overflowed directly into the parking lot, which overflows directly into Vince Bayou.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

Due to heavy rains in the area, available freeboard located in the containment areas had become compromised and the contents were overflowing into the parking lot.  Initial assessment included the north and south tank farm secondary containment areas, sumps, bays, and a retention pond.  Some characteristically hazardous drums and totes in the warehouse were leaking contents, thereby creating an additional safety concern.

2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

US Oil Recovery opened for business in May 2002 in Pasadena, Texas to handle used oil.  In its proprietary plant, US Oil Recovery performed municipal and industrial wastewater pretreatment of Class I and Class II wastewater, characteristically hazardous waste, used oil and oily sludges, and municipal solid waste.  The facility is located on approximately 13 acres located north of the City of Pasadena at 400 N. Richey. 

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

 

During this operational period, the EPA and their contractors continued emergency removal actions at the US Oil Recovery facility located at 400 North Richey, Pasadena, TX.  EPA Emergency and Rapid Response Service (ERRS) personnel continued recovery of liquids from the north and south tank farms.  Hydrogen sulfide was found to be present at significant levels in the liquids recovered from the above ground storage tanks.

EPA and START collected three waste samples from the sludge.  One sample was collected from the north tank farm secondary containment; one sample was collected from the south tank farm secondary containment; and one sample was collected from the acidic sludge contained in three sumps.  Analytical data reported will be used to implement the most cost effective method for disposal.

ERRS removed the acidic sludge from the three sumps (34, 35, and 36) and temporarily stored the material securely at the facility pending disposal approvals.

At the end of this operational period, approximately 340,000 gallons of non-hazardous oily liquid waste has been transported off-site for fuels blending / recycling at the Intergulf disposal facility in Pasadena, TX.  This material was from the above ground storage tanks; north and south secondary containments; sumps 34, 35, and 36; the parking lot; and bays 45 and 48. 
 

Additional measures taken during this reporting period include securing the site and implementing engineering controls to prevent access to sumps 34, 35, and 36 during the Thanksgiving break.

 
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

The Potential Responsible Party at this time is US Oil Recovery, LLC.



  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

EPA, START-3 and ERRS will continue after the Thanksgiving break to further stabilize the facility.  This will include disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous sludges from the containments, disposal / recycling of recovered oily liquids from the containments, container re-address, and site security.

  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
No incidents or injuries occurred during or prior to this operational period on this response.

Hydrogen sulfide was found at significant levels in the north tank farm during the recovery operation.  Additional Hydrogen sulfide personal dosimeters were utilized to further protect site personnel.

2.6 Liaison Officer


2.7 Information Officer
Additional information can be obtained at www.epaosc.org/usoilrecovery-pasadena.


3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command


3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services (HCPHES).

4. Personnel On Site
  Personnel on-site include EPA, START-3, and ERRS.

Additional personnel on-site at their discretion are representatives from TCEQ and HCPHES.

5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.

6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
Additional information can be obtained at www.epaosc.org/usoilrecovery-pasadena.


6.2 Reporting Schedule

7. Situational Reference Materials
  Additional information can be obtained at www.epaosc.org/usoilrecovery-pasadena.