United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region X
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

The spill area adjacent to the pipeline has been mostly delineated.  It was calculated that 1.93 acres of tundra and frozen lake surface may have been impacted.  Snow removal along and under the pipeline is continuing.  Additional oil maybe found in these areas.  An over-flight to monitor the spill site was completed Saturday, 3/4/06 at approximately 10:00 AM.

The spill is contained by natural and man-made snow berms.  Certain berms are being reinforced with ice by the addition of water.  Snow and frozen conditions allow for working on the tundra and minimize damage from people, equipment, and oil contamination  

Weather: Partly cloudy, lows 10°F below zero, calm winds

EPA has a FOSC, Matt Carr, and 1 START on the North Slope in the IMT at the Prudhoe Bay Operations Center.An EPA OSC is also in Anchorage at BP corporate headquaters and an additonal START contractor is particpatng in a Joint Operations Center in Anchorage.

RESPONSE ACTION:  Incident response priorities and objectives are
• Ensure all personnel are safe
• Mitigate potenial of further release
• Investigate the cause of the spill
• Continue containment of the spill
• Implement a plan to restart the pipeline

The location of the leak was discovered this morning at approximately 1:40 AM.  The discovery was made after enough snow was removed around the culvert at the caribou crossing and a “gurgling” noise was detected by response crews.  Workers nearby illuminated the area and observed oil “slowly dripping” from the pipeline.  A distinct oil spray pattern was also noted on the inside of the culvert.  Caution and care are being taken in to ensure safety of the workers and to prevent worsening the spill.

Numerous vacuum trucks are currently on-site recovering oil. Approximately 1202 bbls (50,484 gallons) of oil/water have been recovered as of 1900 on March 5, 2006.

Currently the primary recovery tactic is to use vacuum trucks to pick up pooled oil.  A heavy oil pump is being used on the inlet of each vacuum hose to assist in moving the oil. Snow removal along and under the pipeline is continuing.  Additional oil may be found in these areas.
  
A 24-hour cleanup operation is in effect.  A total of 60 spill responders, 30 for the day shift and 30 for the night shift, are working in the field-cleanup efforts.  

BPXA has completed construction of a 400 foot by 400 foot ice pad which is now hardening in the cold weather.  BPXA continues construction of an ice road and pad to improve site access and to stage response equipment on the north side of the spill area.

The Unified Command has approved, or received approval for:
• Disposal of waste fluids
• Construction of an ice pad and ice roads
• Tundra travel
• Health and Safety Plan
• Current operational period Incident Action Plan

CG2 remains shutdown, freeze protection of approximately 230 wells and associated flow lines is about 95% complete.

All recovered oil in the vacuum trucks continues to be transported to Flow Station 2 (FS-2) and offloaded into a 10,000 barrel (bbl) tank.

Free liquid oil will continue to be recovered using Vac trucks and viscous oil pumping equipment. Removal of snow and segration of oiled, contamined snow will occurr to expose the oiled tundra and frozen lake surface. Response tactics such as warm water flushing followed by recovery are anticpated to occur in the future. Plans to repair the pipeline and resume pumping operations will be implemented after the source has been identified.

Additional response actions include determining the volume spilled and cause of the spill.  Plans to repair the pipeline and resume GC-2 facility operations are being developed now that the source has been identified.

An excavator arrived at the spill site and is standing by to begin excavation of the caribou crossing.  Workers estimate that an approximate 25 foot wide section of the caribou crossing will need to be removed to gain access for repairs..

Frostbite is a concern and BPXA is swapping crews frequently and is providing warm up shacks for workers.  

The volume is unknown at this time.  Volume estimates will not be made until there is sufficient information available.