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The Missouri Department of Natural Resources was notified on 2/26/05 at 1600 hours of a diesel fuel sheen and odors on the Black River at Clinton Park in Poplar Bluff. The source of the release was traced upstream to the City of Poplar Bluff's power generating plant, where they maintain a 500,000 gallon above-ground storage tank (AST) for fuel for backup generators. It was ultimately determined that a leak in a 3" product line from the AST was the source of the release. The line was immediately taken out of service. The released fuel was found to be migrating at a depth of approximately 11 feet below ground surface along a storm drain down to where it emerged at the Black River.
The RP (City of Poplar Bluff Utility Dept.)reported that the AST currently holds approximately 225,000 gallons of product and that they estimate that there is a loss of approximately 2000 gallons that they cannot account for. The 2000 gallon quantity
lost is considered a rough estimate at this point. Although there is impact to the river (primarily sheen) no signs of fishkill have been
observed.
The Poplar Bluff Fire Department initially responded to the scene and assisted in tracking down the upstream source. Jackson Bostic, MDNR, responded the afternoon of the incident discovery to assist local officials in investigating and mitigating the release. The local LEPC responded with a spill trailer to provide booms and other absorbents to assist the mitigation.
Randy Carter, MDNR, also responded on 2/27 to provide additional oversight of the incident. Several interceptor trenches were dug to attempt to intercept product and absorbent pads/booms are in place to capture additional product as it emerges at the river. The RP also has a contractor on-scene installing several product recovery wells. Fire Department staff and MDNR staff surveyed the length of impacted stream and did not observe any dead or distressed fish. It has been relayed to MDNR that there is a population of endangered mussels in the Black River, it is not yet known if any of this population exists in the affected area.
The MDNR called EPA on 3/26/2005 to request access to the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. EPA OSC Jeff Weatherford obtained access to the fund on March 26, 2005.
EPA OSC Jim Silver responded to the incident on March 27, 2005 to verify the information concerning the spill and to determine if the PRPs were responding promptly and properly.
A Pollution Removal Funding Authorization (PRFA)was issued to the MDNR on March 28, 2005.
Response at the site is ongoing and MDNR staff will continue to provide additional oversight and assistance. A significant number of buried lines and other utilities are located in the area of the release, slowing the subsurface investigation and recovery of additional lost product.
MDNR will continue to provide periodic updates to EPA as cleanup progresses. Once the removal is complete, MDNR will attempt to recover costs from the PRP.
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