United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region III
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

The Site is the location of a discharge of oil (reported as recycled oil) into the International Petroleum Corporation facility's containment system and then into the adjacent Christiana River. The discharge occurred sometime prior to 2000 hrs. on July 15, 2006, and an estimated 2100 gallons was released  into the Christina River.  The IPC facility collects and recycles used oil from a variety of customers and the discharge occurred during a tank transfer.  Oil discharged to the Christiana River and spread with the tide cycles to the nearby Brandywine Creek and Delaware River.  The Site is located in a mixed commercial/industrial portion of the City of Wilmington Delaware.

A. RP contractors have collected approximately 1739 gallons of oily liquids from skimming operations since the spill occurred.  No free product was collected from the operations today.      

B. As of today, RP has a total of 90 cleanup contractors working on the river and shoreline.  RP contractors have redeployed additional sorbent pads and booms as needed.  

C. The USCG and DNREC determined that the Christina River could be reopened for the weekend.  All cross-waterway hard boom was removed.  Hard boom remains parallel to the Christina River and the Peterson Wildlife Refuge and the areas adjacent to the Port of Wilmington docks.  Sausage boom remains at the inlet to the landfill adjacent to I-495.  

D. As of today, RP contractors have collected a total of 10 roll-off boxes of oiled debris from the rivers and banks and oil-soaked sorbent booms/pads.   Additional hard boom and contractor work boats were deconned today.


E. During the a.m. over flight, free product was not observed on the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, however, light to moderate sheening was observed in several areas.  


F. USCG advised the RP in Port of Wilmington activities.  Flushing activities continued adjacent to the Port, however, these activities were minimally effective.   USCG FOSCR demobed at 1600.

G. Tri-State Bird Rescue continues to monitor the status of the lightly oiled geese that have eluded capture.   Tri-State reported species statistics to the Unified Command this afternoon.   A total of 66 birds/waterfowl were captured live following the spill – 52 Canada Geese, 13 Mallards and 1 Barn Swallow.  Of these 66 birds, 2 Juvenile Mallards and the Barn Swallow died in care.  In addition, 3 deceased birds were recovered from the spill area – 2 Juvenile Mallards and 1 immature Herring Gull.

Oil Recovery operations continue are underway using booms and oily debris removal devices.  Some remaining oil appears to be currently trapped under the docks at the Port of Wilmington.  Response operations also involve the removal of oiled debris.  Sensitive environments have been boomed where possible.  EPA, the State of Delaware and the Responsible Party formed a Unified Command and had been directing spill response operations.  At this time the EPA OSC determines (in consultation with the USCG and the State of Delaware) that the RP is conducting all appropriate response operations anticipated in the NCP.

A. RP will continue sheen control operations.

B. RP will continue to maintain booms and continue collection of oiled debris.
  
C. EPA, DNREC & START will continue oversight of field activities.

D. Two Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Team (SCAT) review of affected areas will begin at 0800 July 22.  SCAT will consist of RP contractor, DNREC and EPA.