U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
BKEP Pipeline LLC oil spill FPN E12612 - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VI
Subject: POLREP #1
Initial
BKEP Pipeline LLC oil spill FPN E12612
FPN E12612
Neches, TX
Latitude: 31.9161060 Longitude: -95.4505920

To:
From: Gary Moore, OSC
Date: 2/22/2012
Reporting Period: 02/20 - 21/2012

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: FPN E12612    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: OPA    Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category:
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 2/20/2012    Start Date: 2/20/2012
Demob Date: 2/21/2012    Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#: E12612    Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

Emergency Response - Oil Spill

1.1.2 Site Description

At 1503 hours on 20 February 2012 the National Response Center (NRC report number 1003502) was notified of a release of crude oil into the surrounding environment due to an equipment failure involving a pump at the BKEP Pipeline LLC - Neches Station, located approximately 5 miles NE of Neches, Anderson County, Texas. Geographical coordinates for the BKEP Pipeline LLC oil spill are 31.915532°N; 95.450778°W. The NRC report indicated that approximately 100 barrels (bbl) of crude oil was discovered to have been spilled due to a pump packing failure. The incident was discovered at approximately 1015 hours on 20 February 2012.   The spilled material was observed by RP personnel and had migrated approximately 2000 feet toward Brushy Creek. At the time of NRC notification, oil had not entered Brushy Creek and it was stated that the leak had been secured and engineering controls implemented to prevent the oil entering Brushy Creek.

1.1.2.1 Location

5 Miles NE of Neches, Anderson County, TX (31.915532°N; 95.450778°W)

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Approximately 100 bbl of crude oil

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

The facility is unmanned with operators on-site periodically throughout the work week.  It appears that the pump packing failure occured sometime over the weekend (2/18 -19/2012) and rainfall pushed the oil downhill into timberland through a series of gullies in combination with sheet flow to a ponded area approximately 2000 feet to a wet weather low lying area that serves as a high water backflow area and rainfall discharge point for Brushy Creek.  The oil is contained and remains dispersed along the spill path. The wet and muddy conditions on-site have caused some impacts on the response efforts but did not impact the RP's  ability to effectively contain the spill and keep it out of Brushy Creek which is a tributary to the Neches River. 

The RP has a series of dikes and containment boom strategically placed to effectively contain the spill.  Additionally, the RP has placed contingency boom in place in order to protect Brushy Creek and the Neches River should additional significant rainfall become an issue.  The RP has brought in specialized equipment to assist in the recovery effort including Swamp Buggy and Mats.  The contractor has several response companies on-scene to address this spill. 
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

On 20 February 2012 at approximately 1550 hours, EPA and START-3 contractors mobilized to the BKEP Pipeline site to document PRP contractor cleanup response activities to ensure that appropriate measures were being employed to limit short and long term adverse impacts to human health and the environment. EPA START-3 Contractors arrived at the incident location at 1930 hours on 20 February 2012.  EPA arrived at approximately 2030 hrs.  Upon arrival EPA, met with RP Representatives and received a limited tour of the spill site and impacted areas as low light conditions prevented a full assessment.  Response contractors remained on-site throughout the night addressing impacted areas.  After touring a limited portion of the impacted area and being informed that the spill had been contained, EPA and its contractors demobed the site at approximately 2110 hours.  Upon demobilization, EPA and its contractors drove to a downstream location on Brushy Creek.  No oil was observed.

On 21 February 2012, EPA and its contractors returned to the site and followed up with the Department of Inteior(DOI), US. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) concerning natural resource issues that would impact the response activities.  A threatened plant species was identified for Anderson County but after consultation with USFWS it was determined that we could move forward.with response activities without furthur concern.  EPA also consulted with TPWD.  After EPA informed TPWD about the spill, they responded out of their Tyler Office to put eyes on the spill and its potential impacts to wildlife and habitat.  TPWD made recommendations on additional protection booming locations as well as access in and around oiled areas relative to wildlife habitat.  No restriction recommendations were made for the areas currently impacted except to try to limit the impacts to what was absolutely necessary to recover the oil.  Recovery operations increased today but were still somewhat limited as specialized equipment was still arriving. EPA and its contractors demobed the site at approximately 1700 hours.  Periodic updates will be provided to EPA by the RP.  EPA will continue monitoring the cleanup activities.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

The spill was effectively contained.  The RP initiated cleanup of the pump area and began flushing the upper reaches of the spill area to collection locations.  Recovery operations were initiated at the final collection area within the low lying area connected to Brushy Creek. Increasing recovery operations will be initiated on 22 Febraruy 2012. 

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

Responsible Party:
BKEP Pipeline LLC
6120 S. Yale, Suite 500
Tulsa, OK  74136

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
           
           
           


  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

RP Recovery operations will require removing contaminated debris, flushing oil from impacted areas, and recovery and disposal of the oil, and restoration of the site.  Additionally, protection booms will remain to in place until it is determined that there is no longer a threat of the spilled oil migrating into Brushy Creek and beyond.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

EPA will monitor the progress being made and will conduct a final evaluation of the cleanup activities conducted.

2.2.2 Issues

The only concern is the potential for inclement weather and the impacts on the terrain from such.  It appears that this may have been mitigated with the protection booming activites as well as the swamp equipment available to the RP. 
  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
    No information available at this time.
3. Participating Entities
  No information available at this time.
4. Personnel On Site
  No information available at this time.
5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.
6. Additional sources of information
  No information available at this time.
7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.