On August 5, 2007, a local citizen notified the National Response Center of an oil spill near TALCO, Texas (NRC #844521). The citizen reported that the oil had reached a nearby stream and could potentially impact a nearby wetlands. The stream is locally referred to as Edwards Creek, and flows into a nearby wooded marshland which flows into an intermittent creek which flows into the White Oak Creek which flows into the Sulphur River which flows into Red River. The land is heavily vegetated with trees and brush and is used for hunting wild game, such as deer. The PRP is ExxonMobil and they have estimated the spill volume to be approximately 650 barrels of salt water and 15 to 20 barrels of crude oil.
EPA representatives arrived on scene at approximately 1830 on August 5, 2007, and observed a Tank Battery that consisted of 7 oil/water separator tanks ranging from 90 to 420 barrels, 3 500 barrel crude oil tanks, 1 210 barrel crude oil tank, and 1 3,000 barrel salt water tank. EPA representatives also observed 2 Vac trucks onsite collecting spilled oil in the nearby stream. The PRP representative onsite stated that a 6 inch line within their tank battery that is approximately 3 foot below the surface and is part of their oil/saltwater separation process ruptured which caused the oil to reach the creek. This line which ruptured flows from their oil/saltwater separator tanks to large saltwater holding tank. EPA representatives observed free standing oil in the impacted stream down to an earthen berm which had been constructed to clean up the spill. The earthen berm had been constructed just upstream from the marshland area. EPA representatives also observed free standing oil along the spill pathway from the tank battery to the entry point in the creek.
The PRP has mobilized additional cleanup contractors and Vac Trucks and is expecting those assets to arrive on the morning of August 6, 2007.
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