U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
(E13611) Exxon Pipeline Mayflower Arkansas Oil Spill - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VI

Subject: POLREP #11
Progress Report
(E13611) Exxon Pipeline Mayflower Arkansas Oil Spill

Mayflower, AR
Latitude: 34.9638070 Longitude: -92.4286530


To:
From: Nicolas Brescia, OSC
Date: 4/24/2013
Reporting Period: 4/17/2013 through 4/23/2013

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number:      Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: OPA    Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead: PRP    Incident Category: Removal Assessment
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 3/29/2013    Start Date: 3/29/2013
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category
Transportation-Related: Pipeline Spill

1.1.2 Site Description

1.1.2.1 Location
The pipeline spill occurred in a residential neighborhood in Mayflower, Faulkner County, Arkansas (34.963807 Latitude, -92.428653 Longitude).  Due to elevated VOC readings and due to the amount of oil present on the ground and in the street, 22 residential homes were evacuated along N. Starlite Road.  (Evacuated residential home number was revised from previous pollution reports to reflect actual number of homes evacuated.)

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The damaged pipeline released Wabasca heavy crude oil into the North Woods Subdivision.  Crude oil then flowed west along N. Starlite Road, into a bar ditch adjacent to a Union Pacific Railroad line, into an unnamed creek, and into a tributary to a cove of Lake Conway.  Lake Conway is a tributary to the Arkansas River.  Local residents have been evacuated from 22 homes due to elevated levels of VOCs and benzene detected in the source area of the spill. 

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
The source was a Pegasus Line that connects Patoka, IL to Nederland, TX, approximately 850 miles long.  The 20-inch pipeline has a capacity of 95,000 barrels per day.  The pipeline is buried 24 inches deep with a distance of 18 miles between isolation valves.  The pipeline release began Friday afternoon 29 March 2013.  The break in the line was isolated and the pipeline stopped leaking oil at approximately 0300 hours 30 March 2013.  The RP is estimating approximately 5,000 bbl of oil has been released.

2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

April 17 - April 23, 2013

EPA within Unified Command revised the re-entry procedure to include indoor air sampling for residents in the impacted area. No re-entries occurred during this operational period.  Twenty-four hour outdoor air monitoring continued through the operational period.  EPA START continued daily routine air monitoring throughout the impacted neighborhood.  There were no significant readings for VOCs.  One EPA START was demobilized.

A media tour was conducted at the site on 4/20.  Two members from the U.S. House of Representatives visited the site on 4/21.

OSC Smith replaced OSC Mason on 4/20. OSC Brescia transitioned with OSC Rhotenberry on 4/23.  OSC McAteer demobilized from the site on 4/18.

The RP continues removal of a portion of the storm sewer and water line adjacent to Starlite Road.  Operations continue in the North Woods Subdivision where 22 homes remain evacuated.  Operations also continue in the Bell Cove of Lake Conway which remains isolated from the larger body of water at Highway 89.

A grid is being established over Bell Cove (Division B). The grid is being established to help clean-up crews monitor progress as response efforts continue within the cove area.

During this operational period Unified Command conducted a site walk on the ditch area along North Main Street and the creek area between North Main Street and I-40. The Unified Command signed off on transitioning these areas from emergency response to the remediation phase. The Unified Command consists of the EPA FOSC, the ADEQ SOSC, Faulkner County LOSC, and the RP. 

ADEQ continues to sample Lake Conway to verify no oil is present.

Approximately 28,489 bbl oil/water mixture has been collected to date.  The total amount of oil/water collected has been reduced due to actual gauging of the frac tanks that occurred on 4/23/2013. 

OSC Brescia increased the FPN ceiling to $600,000.

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

The Pegasus pipeline is operated by ExxonMobil Pipeline Company.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
Oil and Water   28,489*  bbl      
Soils   208 - 20yd3 Boxes      
Oiled Debris     79 - 20yd3 Boxes      
Wood Chips     70 - 20yd3 Boxes      
* Oily liquid recovered and stored quantity reconciled after gauging on 4/23/2013.

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Unified Command will continue to provide the community and media with high priority and responsiveness.  Execute approved plans and assess progress on daily basis.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
EPA START and RP’s contractor will continue independent area air monitoring to identify VOC levels in the impacted residential areas.

Continue the re-entry process for the evacuated residents as needed.

Continue recovery of relatively small amounts of remaining oil and oiled debris.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
For planning purposes, began development of smooth transition from the response phase to the long-term assessment and remediation phase.

2.2.2 Issues

There continues to be high interest from local and national media and activist groups.

  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
  3.1 Unified Command
ExxonMobil Representatives
Federal and State Agencies

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality
Arkansas Department of Emergency Management
Arkansas Game and Fish
Arkansas Department of Health
Faulkner County Emergency Management
Mayflower Fire Department
Mayflower Police Department
Faulkner County Judge
US FWS

4. Personnel On Site
  3 - EPA personnel (Incident Command, Planning, Operations, PIO)

1 - EPA START personnel (air monitoring)

5. Definition of Terms
  RP - Responsible Party

6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report

www.epaosc.org/exxonmayflower

6.2 Reporting Schedule

Operational Period 10 (4/17/2013 through 4/23/2013).

7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.