United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region VI
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

On August 5, 2007, a local citizen notified the National Response Center (NRC) of an oil spill near TALCO, Texas (NRC #844521).  The citizen reported that the oil had reached a nearby stream and could potentially impact a nearby wetlands. The stream is locally referred to as Edwards Creek, and flows into a nearby wooded marshland locally known as the Edwards Bottom which flows into an intermittent creek which flows into the White Oak Creek which flows into the Sulphur River which flows into Red River.  The land is heavily vegetated with trees and brush and is used for hunting wild game, such as deer.  According to the leasee of the land where the wooded marshland is located, during a heavy rainfall event, rainwater flows from the impacted stream to the wooded marshland and continues to flow downstream of the marshland.  The leaser also estimated that the stream which was impacted by the spill contains water approximately 6 months out of the year.  The PRP is ExxonMobil and they have estimated the spill volume to be approximately 650 barrels of salt water and 15 to 20 barrels of crude oil.  

The EPA OSC and EPA-START 3 contractors continue their oversight and observation activities on August 8, 2007.  The EPA OSC delivered a Notice of Federal Interest to ExxonMobil, and discussed the content of the document.  The EPA OSC demobiled from the site. START-3 contractors remained onsite to observe ExxonMobil’s progress on cleanup activities. Approximately 2 Vac Trucks, 1 bull dozer, 1 back hoe, and 1 water truck are being utilized onsite.  Work activities at the site include ExxonMobil washing the creek banks with fresh water to remove the remaining oil and oil contaminated soil in the creek banks.  ExxonMobil activities also include placing oil contaminated soil into a poly lined bermed area. Approximately 175 feet of the creek banks have been washed to date.  As of 1700 on August 8, 2007,  ExxonMobil reported that approximately 1070 barrels of oil/water mix was returned to their process system.  The oil/water mix quantity total includes fresh water which is trucked in by the water truck and used to wash the banks of the creek.

Exxon plans to continue their cleanup activities which includes utilizing Vac Trucks to remove the oil from the creek, pressure washing the banks of the creek, and removing any oil impacted soil vegetation and debris from the creek and wetlands area as necessary.  Additional equipment to be brought to the site includes 2 additional water trucks and a rolloff container to holdthe oiled debris/vegetation.