U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Red River Fish Kill - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VI
Subject: POLREP #1
Initial
Red River Fish Kill
A6BY
Oscar, OK
Latitude: 33.9397997 Longitude: -97.7520561

To: Reggie Cheatham, EPA HQ
Ronnie Crossland, US EPA
Anthony Buck, TCEQ
Monty Elder, ODEQ
From: Adam Adams, OSC
Date: 8/23/2011
Reporting Period: 8/19/2011 - 8/22/11

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: A6BY    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead:    Incident Category:
NPL Status:    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 8/21/2011    Start Date: 8/19/2011
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:


1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency Response

1.1.2 Site Description
Fish Kill reported along the Red River along the Texas-Oklahoma State line.  ODEQ reports all the large fish and bottom dwellers are dying along this stretch of the Red River.

1.1.2.1 Location
Texas-Oklahoma state line along the Red River from approximately Terral, OK to Lake Texhoma.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Report indicates an unknown substance potentially killing the large fish in the Red River.
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

 EPA Region 6 was contacted by ODEQ on 8/19/2011 about a fish kill in the Red River near Oscar, OK due to unknown causes.  ODEQ requested assistance in the assessment of the cause of this fish kill.  At this time,  EPA tasked their START-3 contractor to make preparations to conduct water and sediment sampling in the Red River from the Terral, Oklahoma area and to the east all the way to the mouth of Lake Texhoma.  Due to the lack of availability of airboats and local guides over the weekend, EPA and their START-3 contractors mobilized to the Red River on 08/21/2011to conduct an initial recon and prepare to begin sampling activities on the morning of 8/22/2011 on the river. 

 

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

 
On the morning of 8/22/2011, EPA and START-3 met with local airboat captains and collected 5 water samples and 2 sediment samples along the Red River near the Terral, OK and Oscar, OK area.   These samples were then shipped to an analytical laboratory for analysis.  

Technical support has been provided by the ERT regarding analytical methodologies and potential chemicals of concern.  

 

 

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

There are no potentially responsible parties identified at this time.
  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

On 8/23/11 EPA will continue sampling activities in the Red River in an easterly direction toward the mouth of Lake Texoma.      

Preliminary sample results are expected 48 hours after the laboratory receives the samples.  EPA expects to have preliminary sample results from the Monday samples by Friday morning.
  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
Additional information can be obtained at www.epaosc.org/RedRiverFishKill.

3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command


3.2 Cooperating Agencies
EPA has been working with ODEQ and TCEQ during this emergency response assessment.

Additional agencies that have worked on this incident include Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and US Fish and Wildlife.

4. Personnel On Site
  Currently, Site personnel include the EPA OSC, START-3 contractors, and air boat operators.

ODEQ and TCEQ representatives are on-site at their discretion.

5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.
6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report


6.2 Reporting Schedule
Another POLREP will be provided either upon completion of the emergency response assessment, a significant event occurs during the response, or as needed based on the response effort.

7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.
POLREP #1 Last Updated 6/15/2012