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 impacted stream to the wooded marshland and continues to flow downstream of the marshland. The leaser also estimated that the stream 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 START-3 contractors continue their observation of activities on August 9, 2007. 2 Vacuum Trucks, 1 bull dozer, 1 back hoe, and 2 water truck are onsite. Work activities at the site today include ExxonMobil personnel continuing to wash the creek banks with fresh water to remove the remaining oil and oil contaminated soil adhered to the creek banks in 2 separate areas. Contaminated sediments and soil from the creek bottom which is now dry, continue to be recovered and stored within a bermed staging area lined with poly sheeting. Work activities also include removing additional oil contaminated sediment and soil from the wetlands area, and reworking the berm containing the stockpiled oil contaminated soil and sediment area near the wetlands so the bermed area is fully lined with poly sheeting. As of 1600 on August 9, 2007, ExxonMobil reported that approximately 1320 barrels of oil/water mix was returned to their process system. The oil/water mix quantity total includes fresh water which is trucked in by the water truck and used to wash the banks of the creek.
Exxon plans to continue their cleanup activities. This involves utilizing Vacuum Trucks to remove the oil from the creek, pressure washing the banks of the creek, and removing any oil impacted soil vegetation and debris from the creek and wetlands area as necessary. Additional equipment to be brought in include 1 additional water truck, and a rolloff container to place the oily debris and vegetation in preparation for disposal.
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