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 #12
Progress Report
(E13611) Exxon Pipeline Mayflower Arkansas Oil Spill

Mayflower, AR
Latitude: 34.9638070 Longitude: -92.4286530

To:
From: Nicolas Brescia, OSC
Date: 4/29/2013
Reporting Period: 4/24/2013 through 4/29/2013

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 24 - April 29, 2013
EPA within Unified Command is reviewing and completing the indoor air sampling procedures for the re-entry process. No re-entries have occurred during this operational period. EPA START has provided air monitoring on a requested basis per the FOSC. During this period, there have been no significant readings for VOCs and Benzene. 

Arkansas Senator Pryor conducted a tour of the site on Monday 4/29. The tour included the North Woods subdivision and Bell Cove.

Operations continue in Division Alpha, the North Woods Subdivision where approximately 22 homes remain evacuated. Current operations along North Starlite Road include the following: storm drain and sewer line removal and replacement, assessment of the municipal drinking water line for potential oil impacts, and electrical conduit replacement in two locations. Hydro-vacuuming is continuing in all trench areas as needed.

Assessment of soils in the impacted area continue.  This included the completion of horizontal borings for the impacted residential foundations.  Inspection ports (2” PVC well screen) were installed in the horizontal boring locations in and around the foundations of the four homes impacted by the spill.  An average of 10 inspections ports were installed per home.  Approximately 14 temporary monitoring wells were installed in the impacted area. Out of the 14 temporary monitoring wells installed, only eight produced water. The eight producing wells were developed on 4/25/13 and sampled on 4/27/13. The sampling was conducted in coordination with ADEQ personnel that included oversight and the collection of split samples. Analytical results are pending.

Operations continue in Division Bravo, the Bell Cove area of Lake Conway. Current operations included removal of oiled vegetation and debris, removal of oil pockets found on the water, and the installation of boom/pads throughout the impacted area. Several additional skirt/filter booms were placed on the outer portion of the cove area to reduce any suspended solids/oil from migrating further into the cove. The impacted cove area was divided into grids so workers could focus on a grid by grid cleanup approach.  The Unified Command conducted multiple site walks of the the Bell cove area and have continued to monitor site progress. ADEQ continues to sample Lake Conway. Results of sampling continue to indicate non detect for the presence of oil. 

One EPA START and one EPA OSC remain onsite.

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 4/28/2013. 

   
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     285 - 20yd3 Boxes      
Oiled Debris     123 - 20yd3 Boxes      
Wood Chips     147 - 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 as requested.   

Implement the re-entry process for evacuated residents as requested.

Continue recovery of any remaining oil and oiled debris in the Bell Cove area.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Continue the development of transition from the response phase to the long-term assessment and remediation phase with ADEQ.

2.2.2 Issues

There continues to be high interest from local 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 12 (4/24/2013 through 4/29/2013).
7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.