U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Roseburg Tank - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region X
Subject: POLREP #1
Roseburg Tank
Roseburg Tank
FPN E14004
Roseburg, OR
Latitude: 43.1977540 Longitude: -123.3535070

To:
From: Dan Heister, OSC
Date: 4/22/2014
Reporting Period: 4/10/2014- 4/22/2014

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: FPN E14004    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: 4/10/2014    Start Date: 4/9/2014
Demob Date: 4/18/2014    Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification: ODEQ
FPN#: FPN14004    Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category
OPA/ER

1.1.2 Site Description

On 9 April 2014, EPA received an National Response Center (NRC) report and a secondary direct call from the reporting party regarding the location of a leaking heavy oil tank on Perry Creek near Roseburg, Oregon.  The leaking tank is on the shoreline of the Parrot Creek, which discharges nearby to the South Fork of the Umpqua River.  EPA CID, Region 10’s RCRA and CWA Enforcement, and ODEQ RCRA and ER Programs have also received notification and are involved for coordination purposes.  DOI, NOAA, and Tribal Trustees have been notified.    

 

Early on 10 April 2014, OSC Heister was repositioned from the Absorbent Technologies, Inc (ATI) (Ferry Street) site in Albany, Oregon to confirm the location of the abandoned tank, status, and assess the potential for an oil cleanup action.  Given the technical and logistical challenges of removing the oil from the tank from the shoreline and coordinating dismantling and removing the tank, this oil cleanup action was planned for Monday, 14 April 2014.  Given the relative geographic co-location (Albany and Roseburg, OR) of these two southwest Oregon sites, OSC Heister will be directed this cleanup action.

 

As of Wednesday, 16 April 2014, OSC Heister and a team of EPA contractors have been attempting to separate the sticky thick oil from the water in the tank for disposal purposes.  Working down on the banks of the creek safely, removing the sticky thick oil, and coordinating dismantling and removing the tank are the goals for this specific operation.   


1.1.2.1 Location
Please see photo #1 for aerial view of site.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The tank was part of a former asphalt plant which closed in the early 1970's and had remained undiscovered until in October of 2013 by the City of Roseburg's Public Works Dept.  Although the tank was in the City's right of way they didn't own and had been working with the former property owner to conduct a removal with out success.  Upon arriving on site OSC Heister documented a continuing release to Parrot Creek.  After discussing the matter with the City they decided that they did not wish to take the lead on the removal.  OSC Heister took steps to initiate the clean up.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
See the preceding section.
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative
Heister mobilized to the site with Environmental Quality Management (EQM/ERRS Contractor) 0n 4/16.  The tank was systematically de-watered using a drum vacuum.  This process rendered approximately 700 gallons of waste water which was placed in drums.  Dry ice was placed inside the tank to create a low oxygen environment in order to use a cutting torch on the tank to expose the remainder of the tank (please see Images Section).

Once the remainder of the tank was opened rendering all its contents accessible, the product was solidified with ash and the long slow process of removing the "taffylike" material began.  This material was placed in roll-off boxes for later disposal.  This work was concluded on 4/17.  The tank was crushed and the City has agreed to transport it to a local scrapper once final lab analysis is received.  A representative from City Public Works was present during the majority of the removal.

The morning of 4/18 was spent buttoning up the site and deconning equipment.  Waste disposal for drums and roll off boxes is being arranged.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
The response actions are complete with only waste disposal pending.

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

Property Owner at time asphalt plant business operation and current owner:

Annette Lehman of Mt. Juliette, TN. Phone 615 975 3881.

Heister left a message on phone after two attemps to contact her.  Call was never returned.  Ms Lehman mantains that since the portion of the property that held the tank was annexed by the city as right of way, the tank is no longer her responsibility.

The City of Roseburg, OR
Public Works Dept.
900 SE Douglas Ave
Roseburg,OR 97470

Phone; 541 492 6884

The City is making a Innocent property owner defense and mantains that once they learned of the tanks existence they have been working with the State to compel Ms Leyman to remov it.  The City has showed great cooperation in the EPA's removal effort and is taking care of scrapping the crushed tank.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
 Waste Water  water  700 gal  TBD  TBD  TBD
 Asphalt  solidified  50 yards  TBD  TBD  TBD
           


  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Disposal of wastes after lab results are received

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Disposal of wastes after lab results are received

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Disposal of wastes after lab results are received

2.2.2 Issues
none
  2.3 Logistics Section
    NA
  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

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
City of Roseburg, OR; Oregon State Police, Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality.
4. Personnel On Site
  One  EPA OSC, Four ERRS contractors
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.