On February 26, 2007, Benson-Montin-Greer Drilling (BMG) reported an estimated 200-barrel (bbl) crude oil spill to the National Response Center (827552). The spill is located in a remote area in northern New Mexico within the Santa Fe National Forest in Rio Arriba County. The oil spill occurred when a buried, 4-inch crude gathering pipeline began leaking under the bank of Arroyo Puerto Chiquito and discharged directly into the arroyo. Arroyo Puerto Chiquito is a tributary of Rio Chama, which flows into the Rio Grande.
BMG workers initially responded to the site by installing two dams and sorbent boom in the arroyo, but few resources (personnel and equipment) were deployed by BMG or other substantive work apparently done until after the arrival of EPA. No Oil Spill Removal Organization (OSRO) was hired. Work at the site has also been hampered by the site's remoteness, as well as ice and snow and cold temperatures (6 degrees to 26 degrees). The arroyo has been heavily oiled through much of its upper reaches, with small pools of free oil and heavily saturated grasses. Ice and snow have covered much of the spill.
On March 3, 2007, OSC Franklin met with a U.S. Fish and Wildlife representative for a site consultation to determine if planned response actions are consistent with correct protections of the wildlife, vegetation, and soils in the arroyo. An OSRO representative also toured the site to determine what resourses were needed to remediate the site. BMG workers continued to utilize two vacuum trucks to remove free product from pooled areas. Workers also constructed an additional set of absorbent boom and hay bales at the downstream distal end of the spill to prevent further downstream migration. In addition, BMG crews used a trackhoe to make road improvements for the transport of contaminated soil from the site. BMG workers completed the construction of an additional underflow dam downgradient of the last existing dam. BMG crews preformed excavation around the pipeline and found a hole in the pipeline approximately one to two millimeters in diameter. EPA START contractors observed a substantive amount of contamination around the area of the pipeline, indicating the pipe had been leaking for an undetermined amount of time. Free oil began seeping out of the nearby soil into the excavation site around the pipeline.
On March 4 2007, BMG crews continued to excavate soil around the pipeline. Some of the soil removed was staged on site on plastic sheeting and the rest of the soil was transported via a dump truck to a landfarm located adjacent to the BMG field office. BMG workers also began to wash the arroyo with water. By mid-afternoon, water was flowing in parts of the arroyo due to the flushing and warmer temperatures. In addition, BMG crews began to remove contaminated vegetation.
BMG work crews will continue to excavate around the area of the pipeline and stage the soil removed. BMG will also vacuum oil and oily water from underflow dam collection points, and will also remove contaminated vegetation and the thin layer of contaminated soil on the private land along the spill pathway. BMG will conduct high volume, low pressure soil washing on the National Forest land. The collected oil and water mixture will be recovered by vacuum trucks. Under advisement from the archological consultant, all work will be conducted in and restricted to a 100-foot radius of the arroyo to prevent damage to any potential historical sites in the area. EPA will further discuss site saftey with BMG, based on observed deficiencies in work practices.
EPA will continue to advise and coordinate with BMG representatives, the USFS, USFW, and archeological consultants to ensure timely and appropriate cleanup actions in the sensitive area.
A crude oil spill discharged in a wetland type of arroyo, which flows to the Chama River and through the Jicarilla Apache Reservation. The arroyo remains heavily oiled. The spill is one of three spills from the same pipeline into the same arroyo. Cold weather, and melting ice and snow continues to make the assessment of the extent of contamination and the response efforts difficult.
The site is located in a wetland area that appears to be teeming with wildlife (elk, bear, coyotes, rabbits, birds, etc.). The area is know for having an abundance of archeological sites.
The USFS has concerns about removal of arroyo soils (and vegetation) which are very sensitive and are not easily replaced through natural processes.
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