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 #13
(E13611) Exxon Pipeline Mayflower Arkansas Oil Spill

Mayflower, AR
Latitude: 34.9638070 Longitude: -92.4286530

To:
From: Nicolas Brescia, OSC
Date: 5/7/2013
Reporting Period: 4/30/2013 - 5/6/2013

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 30 - May 6, 2013
EPA completed, and Unified Command approved the indoor air sampling procedures for the re-entry process. Pending approval by residents, re-entry sampling should begin during this operational period. EPA START continue to provide air monitoring on a requested basis per the FOSC. During this period, there have been no significant readings for VOCs and Benzene. 

Operations continue in Division Alpha, the North Woods Subdivision where approximately 22 homes remain evacuated. Current operations along North Starlite Road include the replacement of subgrade utilities and preparation for re-pavement of excavated areas.  Residential driveways along N. Starlite Rd. have been filled, graded, and prepared with rock in preparation for re-paving.  Crews also excavated contaminated soil from backyards of homes along the north side of North Starlite Road and replaced the soil with clean fill. All electrical work has been completed in the Northwoods subdivision.  Crews also completed replacement of approximately 470 feet of storm sewer and waterlines in the affected area.  

Soil and groundwater sampling studies of impacted areas in Division Alpha are continuing.  Exxon Mobil with direct oversight by ADEQ continue to assess soils and groundwater at the properties directly impacted by the spill.  Surface soil samples, borings and sampling underneath foundations continues.  

Operations continue in Division Bravo, the Bell Cove area of Lake Conway. Current operations include washing and jetting shorelines to recover isolated pockets of oil.  Large scale debris removal has ended.  The Unified Command including personnel from Arkansas Game and Fish conducted a comprehensive shoreline walk on both sides of the cove on 5/6.  Visible free oil has been removed from the shorelines and water in the cove.  Remaining staining on larger trees, sheen, and small isolated pockets of oil remain.  The water level in the Cove will be lowered to pre spill conditions over the next few days and then it is expected that the Cove will be ready for transition into the Remediation Phase. Continued booming of the Cove and the cleanup of any visible oil will be continued as part of the Remedial Phase.

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. An additional START Contractor will be added for Re-entry Sampling as needed.

Exxon Mobil has submitted a Draft Amendment to the Waste Disposal Plan for the disposal of the oily liquids being stored at the Exxon Conway Terminal. 

   
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     371 - 20yd3 Boxes      
Oiled Debris     178 - 20yd3 Boxes      
Wood Chips     282 - 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 begin implementation of the Re-entry sampling plan for the evacuated residents as requested.

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