see polrep 1
***Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - EPA OSC (1), START (2): At 0600 hours, EPA returned to the site. Response efforts continued to be conducted by British Petroleum (BP) and Olympic Pipe Line Company as co-operators of the pipeline. The environmental unit reports benzene, ethlybenze, toluene, and xylene (BTEX) concentration results from the ponds and drainage ditch were slightly elevated above the detection limits. No sign of petroleum sheen or floating gasoline. At 1115 hours the Environmental Unit reports that three of the five monitoring wells were installed between the spill site and the wetlands/ponds/drainage ditch. Unified Command was present when each well was sampled for evidence of floating gasoline on the water column or in the subsurface soils. No visible gasoline detected in the samples. Photoionization detector measured only slightly elevated readings.
(Olympic pipeline removed approximately 155 barrels of gasoline/water/fire fighting foam from ssumps and low lying areas located immediately adjacent to the spill site. At 1330 hours EPA and START demobilized from the site after reviewing several rounds of sampling data, and reviewing monitoring well cuttings and groundwater. The OSC determined that the site did not pose a threat to adjoining shorelines or navigable waters. Ecology remained until the pipeline was restarted. Ecology will be the lead agency for cleanup efforts.
None.
EPA will request a copy of Olympic Pipeline's final report. Ecology will continue with oversight of the PRP-lead cleanup.
The release, explosion, and fire caused the Olympic Pipeline Company to shut down the entire pipeline as a safety precaution. The pipeline provides fuel to SEATAC airport. Concerns over fuel shortages were voiced.
Media attention was high. Several press conferences have been held and a total of three press releases were issued.
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