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 leaser 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.
The EPA OSC and EPA START-3 continued their oversight and observation activities on August 7, 2007. Approximately 2 Vac Trucks, 1 bull dozer, 1 back hoe, and 1 water truck were onsite. Work activities at the site include ExxonMobil building an access road along the creek to gain access with their vac trucks and water truck. ExxonMobil is beginning to stockpile oil impacted soil and debris from the wetlands area onto poly sheeting within a bermed area. EPA OSC and START-3 observed that ExxonMobil had built a temporary access road within the wetlands area. The EPA OSC contacted the USFWS to notify them of this activity. The USFWS service recommended that ExxonMobil contact the USACE for an afteraction emergency dredging permit.
The EPA OSC spoke with a local resident of the area in which the resident stated the wetlands which were impacted by this spill flows directly into a small stream which flows into White Oak Creek.
Representatives from the ExxonMobil corporate office contacted the OSC and discussed current and future cleanup activities. The OSC informed ExxonMobil’s corporate representative that EPA would continue to monitor the cleanup operation around the oil impacted creek and wetlands area until the cleanup objectives were met. The cleanup objectives were issued to the ExxonMobil Field Foreman by the EPA OSC on August 6, 2007.
As of 1500 on August 7, 2007, ExxonMobil reported that 720 barrels of oil/water mix was returned to their process system.
ExxonMobil plans to continue their cleanup activities which includes utilizing Vac Trucks to remove the oil from the creek, as well as pressure washing the banks, and removing any oil impacted soil and debris from the creek and wetlands area as necessary.
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