On January 25, 2009, the R7 Duty Officer received a call from the NRC reporting a release of approximately 1,500 barrels of crude oil due to a pipeline break. There was a drop in pressure at 0804, but the location of the release was not discovered until 1030. The release occurred approximately 1 mile south and .5 miles west of Maple City, Kansas, in a rural cattle pasture, less than 2 miles due north of the Oklahoma border. The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund was opened by the R7 Duty Officer.
On January 26, 2009, OSCs Schademann and Brunkhorst deployed to the site and met with Kyle Parker from KDHE. The Responsible Party (Magellan Pipeline Company, L.P.) and their contractors had been on-site since the previous day. Upon arrival on-site, approximately 1,000 barrels of crude oil/water mixture had been recovered and was being transported via a transport truck to a refinery in El Dorado, Kansas. A large trench had been excavated to expose the ruptured pipeline. The rupture had occurred near the top of the pipe, and oil had been sprayed and then flowed down an intermittent creek. The intermittent creek flows approximately .5 miles to Shellrock Creek. Two earthen dams had been established, and no product was visible downgradient of the second dam. Crews will be working for several weeks to repair the pipeline and complete spill cleanup.
The free product has been recovered and contractors have begun excavating the sides of the drainage feature because the oil had seeped into the soil. There is visible staining for approximately 500 ft. down the drainage. A significant rain event the weekend of February 7 caused the oil to escape the containment area, creating a sheen further downstream. Magellan took water samples in the intermittent ditch where the spill occurred and from Shellrock Creek. Contractors are working to construct a larger dam with 4-5 pipes for underflow that will be able withstand a significant rain event without a release from the containment area, as well as removing grass and other vegetation contaminated by the recent release.
Contractors will continue to cleanup remaining debris and downstream areas affected by the rain event, while starting to excavate contaminated soil located near the pipeline break.
KDHE continues to monitor activities weekly. An approximate completion date is still undetermined.
Weather conditions (rain and cold weather).
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