In response to NRC Report# 913446 and at the request of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), EPA OSC Les Sims and START TNA deployed to the Selma Park Marina, Selma, Al to investigate the incident involving a twelve mile sheen on the Alabama River. A tug boat moored near the Selma Park Marina was identified as a potential source of the sheen. Due to the fact that a commercial vessel was identified as the potential source of the sheen, USCG Sector Mobile also deployed to investigate the incident.
8/1/2009
FOSC Sims arrived onscene around 1700 hrs and integrated into the command structure. A briefing conducted by ADEM, USCG and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) indicated Eagle Tug LLC had been identified as a potential source of an unknown amount of oil/sheen to the waterway near the Selma State Park Marina.
The intitial report of an 1,000-2000 gallon oil spill was not evidenced by ADEM or USACE nor observed during an overflight conducted by local marine police. Marine police reported intermittent sheens were observed approximately 2 miles up river of the marina and 4 miles down river. Actual product observed appeared to be confined to the immediate area of the marina and was estimated at less than 300 gallons of what appeared to be diesel fuel and hydraulic oil.
ADEM reported that the Alabama Game and Fish had conducted a reconnaissance of the river and found no evidence of impacted marine/wildlife related to the spill.
Eagle Tug LLC, identified as a potential PRP, contracted with USES to mitigate the spill and complete the cleanup.
A notice of federal interest was issued by the EPA OSC to the owner of the tug company.
EPA and START demobilized from the site on 8/2/2009.
Given the source of the spill, oversight of the cleanup is being conducted by the USCG.
No further action planned by EPA ERRB.
Although the spill was first reported within EPA inland jurisdiction, USCG assumed lead oversight role once the spill was identified as originating from a commercial vessel conducting business on a navigable waterway.
The incident occurred during the evening of Friday July 31, 2009 and the time is unknown. The incident was reported on Saturday August 1, 2009 at 0700 hours by the Interim Director of the Dallas County Emergency Management, Rhonda Abbott.
Coordinates:
North 32º 24 49.6
West 86º 52 15.3
The Responsible Party was present at the Marina since the beginning of the reported incident. Representatives of USCG, EPA, ADEM, USACE and County Homeland Security were present at the site by noon on Saturday August 1, 2009.
This incident was an oil spill and the components involved were diesel, engine oil and hydraulic oil. The oil discharge took less than a day before was contained. The amount discharged was less than 200 gallons of mixed material, but most of the oil was black oil. The percentage of the components of the spill will be determined after USCG receives the laboratory results of the water samples taken.
The source opf the discharge was a tug boat. The maximum capacity of the tug boat was estimated at 3,200 gallons.
The tug boat named Eagle was moored in the marina the night of Friday August 31, 2009. The discharge was observed during the tugs departure from the marina to the Alabama River.
The Selma Marina, situated on the inlet of the Alabama River, was the facility most affected by the spill.
The Alabama River, in the U.S. state of Alabama, is formed by the Tallapoosa and Coosa
rivers, which unite about six miles above Montgomery .The river flows west to Selma, then southwest, about 45 miles (72 km) from Mobile. It unites with the Tombigbee, forming the Mobile and Tensaw rivers, which discharge into Mobile Bay. The Alabama River's main tributary, the Coosa River, crosses the mineral region of Alabama and is navigable for light-draft boats from Rome, Georgia, to about 117 miles (188 km) above Wetumpka (about 102 miles below Rome and 26 miles (42 km) below Greensport), and from Wetumpka to its junction with the Tallapoosa. The Alabama is navigable throughout the year.
The Alabama River is known for heavy traffic of barges, tugboats, coal shipments. It is also known for recreational and commercial fishing, as well as for kayaking, canoeing and dinner cruises.
It appears that no negative impact to sensitive environments, aquatic or terrestrial species resulted from the oil spill.
9. Describe in detail what actually caused the discharge.
A tugboat named Eagle was using the marina facilities on Friday August 31, 2009 during the evening. The operator of the tugboat when leaving the marina did not notice a lick age of material at the marina. Twelve miles upstream Alabama River the tugboat operator notice the material was licking on the river. Apparently a fracture in the tank of the tugboat occurred while leaving the marina.
10. Describe the damage to public health and the environment as a result of the spill. How many feet, miles, etc., of land and water were affected by the discharge? Was there observed damage to the terrestrial and aquatic biota and vegetation? Were any drinking water intakes forced to close? Were any persons required to evacuate? If yes, describe the damage.
The City Marina of Selma was contaminated with black oil and approximately half mile was affected due to the oil spill. Inside the Marina and immediately after its entrance, the grass population was stained with black oil. No drinking water intake was affected, neither the local biota. Only few marina users were asked to take out their small boats or aquatic motor vehicles.
11. Describe the procedures taken to clean up the discharge and to mitigate the environmental damage and public health threats. Include dates and times for the individual procedures.
The first procedure conducted was placing absorbent booms at the entrance of the marina to avoid the oil going out to the Alabama River. After the oil was contained, USES Group (USCG contractor) proceeds to utilize a vacuum truck to collect as much material they could. The amount of recovered oil was approximately 30 gallons. The cleanup procedure utilized in the Marina was pressure water to detach the oil from the concrete walls and ramps and absorbent pads and booms to contained and collect the oil. The grass population with black oil was removed from the area. All the absorbent material and stained grass and were collected in clear plastic bags by USES Group and were transported to USES Group Birmingham Office until the laboratory results arrive. Once USCG receive the water samples analyses, it will be determine if the waste id hazardous or not.
12. List the federal and state agencies contacted by the owner or operator at the time of the discharge. Also include the agency’s location (mailing address, city, county, state), the date and time of notification, and the name of the official contacted.
August 01, 2009 at 09:31 local time
ALABAMA DEPT OF ENV MGMT (MAIN OFFICE)-(334)3944382
AL U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE (COMMAND CENTER)-(205)2442188
USCG HSOC AT DHS (USCG HSOC DESK)-(202)2828114
USCG ICC (ICC ONI)-(301)6693363
U.S. EPA IV (EPA RRT4) 01-AUG-09 09:31 (251)4415913
JFO-LA (COMMAND CENTER)-(225)3366513
NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE COORD CTR (MAIN OFFICE)-(202)2829201
NOAA RPTS FOR AL (MAIN OFFICE)-(206)5264911
DOT CRISIS MANAGEMENT CENTER (MAIN OFFICE)-(202)3661863
August 01, 2009 at 09:33 local time
SECTOR MOBILE (COMMAND CENTER)-(251)4415976 THURSTON
August 01, 2009 at 09:34 local time
U.S. EPA IV (MAIN OFFICE)-(404)6504955 NO VERBAL
13. State whether an SPCC inspection was conducted and describe any findings.
There is no information available regarding the SPCC inspections, but USCG will conduct one in coordination with Responsible Party after the incident reports.
14. Document the spill history of the facility and list the discharges which have occurred at this facility within the past five years using the following table:
DATE AMOUNT DISCHARGED AMOUNT IN WATER SOURCE & CAUSE
No information available other than the details of this incident.
15. Provide the name, title, home address, and home/work telephone number(s) for the owner(s) of the vessel or facility responsible for the discharge.
Chiasson Tug LLC
Tug boat Captain: Sam Greiswold
Mailing Address: 5521 Business Pkwy
Theodore, AL 36582
Contact: Garrell Chiasson (owner)
(251)300-2664
(985)518-1661
16. Provide the name, title, home address, and home/work telephone number(s) of the operator(s) of the vessel or facility responsible for the discharge if different from the owner, and the relationship between the owner and operator (i.e. employee, contractor, subcontractor, lessee, etc.).
Chiasson Tug LLC
Tug boat Captain: Sam Greiswold
Mailing Address: 5521 Business Pkwy
Theodore, AL 36582
Contact: Garrell Chiasson (owner)
(251)300-2664
(985)518-1661
17. Provide the names, titles, home addresses, and home/work telephone number(s) of the persons who have knowledge of the facts concerning the spill as an attachment to the report labelled “Table of Witnesses”. Include EPA, State, and local officials, START/Strike Team members, other Federal agencies, the company, and the cleanup contractor in the table.
See Table of Witnesses on last page.
18. Does the owner or operator have a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit or any other discharge permit provided by the local, state, or federal government? If yes, name and describe the permit.
No information available.
19. Has the facility ever been assessed a fine for this incident or any other discharge by any other government entity (i.e. city, county, state, federal)? If yes, name the agency or agencies that have assessed a fine (s) on the facility or vessel and the date(s) when the fine(s) was assessed.
No information available.
20. Include the Federal Project Number on the title (cover) sheet of the incident summary report. TABLE OF WITNESSES:
Name Title Address Office number Cellular number Home number
Chief Mike Stokes SFD 334-375-2089
X. 4238 & 4253
Joe Johnson Alabama Game and Fish 334-375-2089 X. 152 & 333
Randy Williams WHBB & Selma Post Harold 334-874-6059
Kenny Owners USCG Contractor USES Group 504-235-1068
Michael Kolkana USCG Contractor USES Group
(Incident Team Leader) 251-776-0864
David Dorian OSC EPA 404-229-9520
Tony Elias USCG Sector Mobile 251-583-3794
Gleneth Duke Dallas Co. EMA Ext. 77 & 427
Nairimer Berríos-Cartagena EPA-START contractor OTIE-TN&A 678-468-0160
Shane Hobbs
Rhonda Abbott Interim Director
Lee Hamilton State Trooper Alabama State Trooper Com Room (STAM) 256-260-5118
Barket Whelch Journalist Selma Journal 334-410-1744 334-412-8202
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