United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region VIII
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

At approximately 2300 MST on January 7, 2009 the Chevron Pipeline company recorded a pressure drop on a 3 inch crude oil pipeline near Bonanza, UT.  The RP indicated that the estimated volume realeased  at least 1400 barrels into a drainage area that feeds a tributary to the White River.  The drainage channel is a dry wash and it is several miles to the White River. Intermittent flow from this drainage channel reports to the White River. The ground was snow covered with approximately 6 to 12 inches.

The oil traveled approximately 3,400 feet in the dry wash and it also flowed in the road side ditch.  The two drainage features joined at a culvert and continued to flow in the dry wash upto the earthen dam where the oil pooled. Soil contamination depths varried considerably depending on the section of the channel that was tested.

The spill location appears to be entirely on land owned by the BLM. The site is approximately 30 miles from Vernal, UT and 5 miles from Bonanza, UT.  No population centers were impacted by the spill.  

OSCs Steve Way and Steve Merritt, along with two START members were on scene to document and oversee RP response operations.

The initial response by the RP involved constructing an earthen dam in the dry wash, and collecting oil with vacuum trucks.  The estimated volume of oil and water recovered is 1219.4 barrels, which was returned to the Chevron processing facility in Rangely, Colorado.

Additional oil recovery was attempted using sorbent material to remove as much free liquid as possible.  

Sampling was performed to better characterize the extent of contamination at depth and laterally from the drainage channels.

Remediation plans are being developed by Chevron Corporation, and these will be presented to the agencies for review.  The plan will include insitu bioremediation and land farming.  (No insitu burn options are being considered.)

Existing containment will be maintained pending final clean up plan approvals. BLM and EPA will determine which agency will continue with the lead in overseeing the remediation.

An in-situ burn was proposed during the early stages of the operation. The OSC indicated that following removal of any oil that could be pumped from the channel and the appropriate air clearing index level, then a burn would be approved with BLM concurrence.  This was based on discussions with the UTDEQ.  Local officials were notified of the proposed plan to perform an in-situ burn of residual oil in the channels. Concerns were raised by the county health officials about the air quality conditions. No approval was given to perform the insitu burn.