On August 5, 2007, a local citizen notified the National Response Center (NRC) 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 locally known as the Edwards Bottom 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. According to the leasee of the land where the wooded marshland is located, during a heavy rainfall event, rainwater flows from the Edwards Creek to the wooded marshland and continues to flow downstream of the marshland. The leasee also estimated that Edwards creek which was impacted by the spill contains water approximately 6 months out of the year. 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 0700 on August 6, 2007 to continue their investigation of the site. 2 Vac Trucks, 1 bull dozer, 1 back hoe and 6 workers were onsite continuing their work activities by 0730 on August 6, 2007. EPA OSC and EPA START-3 contractors met with ExxonMobil personnel to discuss objectives of the oil spill cleanup response at which time ExxonMobil representatives agreed to meet cleanup expectations of EPA OSC. These objectives were written out in a scope of work document and the ExxonMobil representative signed the document in agreement. EPA OSC requested that ExxonMobil notify the NRC of the spill and reference the current NRC report. The EPA OSC and ExxonMobil discussed jurisdiction of the navigable waterway and the EPA OSC explained EPA’s definition of a navigable waterway. During afternoon work activities, START-3 contractors and the EPA OSC observed 3 Vac Trucks, 1 bull dozer, 1 back hoe, and approximately 8 workers onsite. At this time the ExxonMobil foreman stated approximately 520 barrels of oil/water mix was returned to their process system. The Texas Railroad Commission was onsite and ExxonMobil is working with them to remediate the oil impacted soil.
ExxonMobil plans to increase workers onsite to 10 on August 7, 2007 and continue to increase that number as additional workers become available and will continue their cleanup activities which includes utilizing Vac Trucks to remove the oil from the creek. ExxonMobil also stated once more workers arrive onsite, they will begin washing the creek banks and remove any oily vegetation and debris as necessary.
EPA and ExxonMobil had jurisdictional discussions and discussed the definition of a navigable waterway.
Leasee of land stated that a berm does not divide the wetlands area and water flows out of wetlands during a rainfall event.
ExxonMobil is working with the RRC to remediate the oil impacted soil.
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