U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Lagos Dos Bocas Oil Spill II - Removal Polrep
Final Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region II
Subject: POLREP #2
Final PolRep
Lagos Dos Bocas Oil Spill II

Utuado, PR
Latitude: 18.2797214 Longitude: -66.6890963

To:
From: Dilshad Perera, OSC
Date: 2/3/2013
Reporting Period:

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: Z2B6    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: OPA    Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 8/6/2012    Start Date: 8/6/2012
Demob Date:      Completion Date: 8/11/2012
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#: E12206    Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category
Oil release on a navigable water body.

1.1.2 Site Description

On July 26, 2012, Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PREPA) personnel observed a sheen and a strong diesel fuel odor originating from the location of an abandoned vessel which sunk approximately 30 years ago in Lagos Dos Bocas.  The sheen is located approximately 150 feet from a boat launch.  It is believed that diesel fuel is discharging from the sunken vessel's fuel tank which is approximately 250 gallons in size and contains an unknown amount of diesel fuel.  It is unknown how long the tank has been leaking.  The vessel is approximately 50 feet below the water surface. PREPA applied a limited amount of sorbent materials to the water.  PRASA conducted sampled/analyzed a water sample for diesel range organics.

On Monday, August 6th, 2012, a second oil leak was detected on Lagos Dos Bocas from a second vessel.  This vessel is partially submerged and is leaking oil from the engine compartment and possibly the fuel tank.  The oil/fuel is discharging into Lago Dos Bocas.

 

The Lago Dos Bocas is a reservoir constructed by PREPA.  The lake is used for drinking water, hydroelectric generation, fishing, swimming and for transporting visitors to restaurants located along the shoreline which is only accessible by boat.  There is a potential for the drinking water intake, located several miles away, to be impacted.  Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) is scheduled to commence water monitoring near the drinking water intake.  The intake for the turbines is at the dam and is located approximately 500 yards of the sheen.  The gates are opened when there is a power requirement or PRASA requires water.

1.1.2.1 Location
Utuado, Puerto Rico

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Discharge of fuel/oil to Lago Dos Bocas.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
EPA became aware of this spill on 8/6/12.  Based upon EPA's observation of an actual discharge to a navigable water body, an oil spill removal action was initiated.
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

Monday, August 06th, 2012:

Request was made to the NPFC to open a new account for the second vessel due to the contaminated soil and water.
PREPA provided a roll-off for staging oil contaminated sediment.  The oily water was transferred via vac truck.

Tuesday, August 07th, 2012:

A local contractor was interested in salvaging the vessel for scrap metal and would provide his equipment at no charge to the response.

Wednesday, August 08th, 2012:

Oily water noted fuel tank - transferred by vac truck.  Local contractor continued dismantling the vessel.

Thursday, August 09th, 2012:

Contaminated sediment transferred into roll-off container. local contractor continued dismantling the vessel

Friday, August 10th, 2012:

Local contractor continued to dismantle the vessel and began hauling scrap metal off-site.

Saturday, August 11th, 2012:

The vessel completely dismantled and hauled off-site, local contractor completed the restoration of the bank and demobed from site.


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

Factual records were not discovered as to the ownership of the vessel. Local knowledge, undocumented, is as followed:
Due to the time of the construction of the reservoir, several residents in the area would have had their road access cut off. The Government of Puerto Rico, as a solution, mandated the PDOT (Puerto Rico DOT) to provide indefinite ferry service to the effected residents. Two ferries owned by PDOT where brought to Lago Dos Bocas. The two ferries where sold to two brothers who later murdered and the two vessels became abandoned; one of which is the sunken vessel addressed in this response.


2.1.4 Progress Metrics

All disposal was conducted by PREPA

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
           
           
           


  2.2 Planning Section
    No information available at this time.
  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.