U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Plains Pipeline Oil Spill - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V
Subject: POLREP #6
Progress
Plains Pipeline Oil Spill

Pocahontas, IL
Latitude: 38.8317351 Longitude: -89.5980074

To: Mike Buss, City of Highland
From: Andrew Maguire, OSC
Date: 7/16/2015
Reporting Period: 7/15/2015 - 7/17/2015

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 Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 7/10/2015    Start Date: 7/10/2015
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification: IEPA
FPN#: E15520    Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

Emergency Response related to an estimated 4,200 gallons of crude spilled from the Plains Pipeline pump station near Pocahontas, Illinois reported on Friday, July 10, 2015, with oil reaching Little Silver Creek and ultimately into Silver Lake. The oil is a bottomless Canadian Sour Crude Blend, an MSDS is located in the documents section of the website @ www.epaosc.org/PlainsPipelineOilSpill .

1.1.2 Site Description

At this time, the Plains Pipeline (MP-29) Release ER Site encompasses a 12 mile stretch of unnamed ditches combined into Little Silver Creek which ultimately discharges into Silver Lake.

1.1.2.1 Location

The Plains Pipeline Release ER Site address is 17720 Baumann Road, Pocahontas, Illinois.  The release site is at a petroleum pumping station.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

While the upper most portions of the release site is in a rural agricultural environment, crude oil was observed approximately 8 miles away in the upper portion of Silver Lake.  Currently there is no sheen seen in Silver Lake. The Highland, Illinois, Silver Lake is a 574 acre water-body for not only water and city.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

Please refer to POLREP # 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

The Operations Branch is divided into 5 Divisions and 2 Groups to support the objectives of the response.  Divisions A-E are divided geographically and cover booming, recovery, remediation, and pipeline repair operations.  The Environmental Group provides air monitoring, environmental sampling and shoreline assessment throughout the response.  The Waste Management Group supports waste collection and characterization for disposal.

Specific operations covered during the reporting period of this polrep are in the next section.

A situation map delineating the Divisions and showing shoreline assessment results is attached to this polrep.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

On July 10, 2015, Plains Pipeline, LLC reported the release of approximately 100 barrels (4,200 gallons) of crude oil from a pipeline fitting at a pump station located in Pocahontas, Bond County, Illinois (NRC Incident Report 1122376) .  The main pipeline is a 20 inch line that runs to a refinery in Wood River, Illinois.  Plains has shut off two pipelines — Line 901 and Line 903 — in response to that incident while an investigation is conducted into the cause of the spill.  The oil is a bottomless Canadian Sour Crude Blend.  Oil discharged to the ground and into a ditch leading to the tributary of Little Silver Creek. Little Silver Creek discharges into Highland Silver Lake (a reservoir).  The Highland, Illinois, Silver Lake is a 574 acre water-body for not only water and city park recreation but also serves as a drinking water source for a community of approximately 10,000 people.

Please refer to the attached Operational Map for reference.

Operational Division updates as of July 16, 2015 @ 15:30:

Division A:
Cleanup operations have been completed in this division, pending further Shoreline Assessments.  The three underflow dams and boom location are being maintained.  Flushing operations continue to downstream of underflow dam #1.  Remediation of the contaminated facility substrate continues.
Resources deployed - 200' of boom, 30 personnel, 1 vac truck, heavy equipment and hand tools

Division B:
Sheen and oiled vegetation is sparsely present downstream of booming location 3.  Crews continue working on areas identified by shoreline assessment team, recovering collected oil and oiled vegetation from several locations along the creek.  
Resources deployed - 350' of boom, 30 personnel, 1 boat, 1 vac truck and hand tools

Division C:
Sheen is sparsely present.  Crews continue to maintain boom.   
Resources deployed - 50' of boom, 8 personnel, 2 boats and hand tools

Division D:
The Shoreline Assessment Team identified a 100 yard area of oiled shoreline, debris and vegetation.  Crews were dispatched to this area for immediate recovery operations. Crews continue to spot clean various minor areas identified by the Shoreline Assessments.  All booming locations continue be monitored and maintained.
Resources deployed - 1500' of boom, 47 personnel, 11 boats, 1 vac truck and hand tools

Division E:
No sheen is visible in Division E however protective boom continues to be monitored and maintained at the I-70 bridge and water intake.
Resources deployed - 600' of boom, 2 personnel and 1 boats

Environmental Monitoring:
Updated shoreline assessment map attached.  The results of the assessment continue to be used to drive recovery operations.  A total of 52 surface water and 32 drinking water samples h
ave been collected with preliminary results from 7/10, 7/11 & 7/12 showing no detections of crude oil constituents.  A total of 85 air samples have been collected with results pending.  A total of 1338 monitoring readings have been taken with no detections of Benzene, Hydrogen Sulfide, Hexane, Toluene, VOCs, or LEL. 
Resources deployed - 30 personnel, air monitoring and sampling equipment

The City of Highland continues to use the drinking water intake in Highland Silver Lake.  An emergency source of drinking water has been set up from a different watershed should it be needed.

An IAP has been developed for the next operational period (7/17/2015-7/21/2015)

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

A Notice of Federal Interest was issued to Plains Pipeline on 7/11/2015.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
Oily Liquids  Recovered Oil & Water  81,820  gallons    NA at this time NA at this time
Crude Oil Impacted Solids   914 cubic yards    Land Applied Landfill
Crude Oil Recovered  Subset of Oily Liquids 170 gallons      


  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities  

Develop an operation and maintenance plan to ensure oil and sheen is collected after rain events.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

The following tasks are anticipated to continue into the next operational period:
  • Monitoring of protection boom at drinking water intake in Silver Lake
  • Monitoring and sampling of drinking water intake
  • Containment and recovery of oil within ditches, Little Silver Creek and Silver Lake
  • Assessment of extent of contamination
  • Continue water sampling around water intake
  • Conduct scheduled air monitoring per approved plan
  • Conduct environmental sampling per approved plan
  • Monitor waste streams and reporting to UC daily
  • Determine scope of next operational period
  • Continue participation in the ICS structure to plan, strategize and execute objectives and tactics as related to current and next operational period for logistics and planning requirements.  
  • Perform Rapid Shoreline Assessments throughout all divisions.
  • Flush ditches near site to remove oil from surfaces and collect at underflow dams. 
  • 2.2.1.2 Next Steps

    Continue the aggressive protection of the municipal water supply intake.

    Pending approval, considerations are being made to return the pipeline to full operation. 

    Identify response milestones to move into recovery phase. 

    2.2.2 Issues

    At this time, no recreational boats will be allowed to access Silver Lake.  The City of Highland has elected to close the Silver Lake Park area due to concerns of safety from vehicular traffic. 



    •   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
        2.5.1 Safety Officer

    2.5.2 Liaison Officer

    2.5.3 Information Officer

    EPA was interviewed and photographed by Mark Hodapp with the Highland News Democrat and Belleville News Democrat.  General questions regarding operations was discussed.
    3. Participating Entities
      3.1 Unified Command

    US EPA
    City of Highland
    Plains Pipeline
    IL EPA

    3.2 Cooperating Agencies

    PHMSA
    Illinois Department of Natural Resources
    4. Personnel On Site
     
    USEPA     2
    START     3
    RP           20
    RP Contractors 200

    5. Definition of Terms
      No information available at this time.
    6. Additional sources of information
      6.1 Internet location of additional information/report

    www.epaosc.org/PlainsPipelineOilSpill
    www.mp29response.com


    6.2 Reporting Schedule

    POLREPS will be reported in conjunction with operational periods.  A 96 hour cycle at this time.  Next POLREP expected on 7/21/15
    7. Situational Reference Materials
      No information available at this time.