On January 25, 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Region 7 (R7) Duty Officer received a call from the National Response Center (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 USEPA R7 Duty Officer.
On January 26, 2009, USEPA R7 On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs) Schademann and Schuette (Brunkhorst) deployed to the site and met with Kyle Parker from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (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.
An electric fence was installed on February 20, 2009, so that the rancher leasing the land could allow his cattle to graze. The fence ran from both gates to the field, past the dam, and around both land farm locations.
Contractors removed grass and other contaminated vegetation and excavated contaminated soil. Removal of the oil/water in the drainage ditch was completed February 25, 2009. A total of 12 frac tanks were full of the oil/water mixture. On February 26, 2009, water from the retention pond at the original point of release was released to flush the drainage ditch.
On March 2, 2009, crews began to relocate the two land farm piles 100 feet uphill at the request of KDHE. The soil was spread to a depth of 6 to 8 inches while removing large rocks. Grab samples were collected from the two land farm areas on March 16, 2009, per the requirements of the land farm application for KDHE.
A prescribed burn on the pasture by the lessee on the land took place on April 14, 2009, with Magellan's contractors on site.
Oil was removed from the frac tanks and placed in a holding frac tank for future treating and disposal. The contractor removed oil from the rocks with the power washer and hauling clean rocks to the excavated area. Cleaning of the frac tanks began on April 29, 2009.
Another company was brought in to treat the water prior to land application. Water treatment began on May 5, 2009. A sample of the treated water was taken and the treated water will be stored on site in frac tanks until sample results confirm to KDHE's standards. Removal of empty frac tanks began on May 6, 2009.
Ripping and disking of the land farm areas took place May 18 through 19, 2009. Contractors treated the two land farm areas on May 19, 2009. The contractors demobilized from the site.
Contractors returned to the site in the summer to check the berms on the landfarm areas and to complete the replacement of the electric fence. They also verified that the rocks were still clean in the bank and there was no sheen present.
KDHE requested the Magellan enroll in the Voluntary Cleanup and Property Redevelopment Program (VCPRP) to address possible subsurface/groundwater issues. Magellan submitted the application for the VCPRP and it was accepted by KDHE on November 6, 2009.
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The surface cleanup is complete. Magellan has enrolled in the KDHE VCPRP to address possible subsurface/groundwater issues. They will submit a formal written plan on how they will address these issues.
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