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 continued their observation of activities on Friday August 10th, 2007. Two Vacuum Trucks, one Bull-dozer, one backhoe, one 30 cubic yard roll-off box and three water trucks were onsite. ExxonMobil personnel and contractors continued to wash the creek banks in two seperate areas to remove the remaining oil adhered to the bank. Contaminated sediments and oil-affected soil from the creek bottom were recovered and stored within a bermed staging area lined with poly sheeting. Work activities also included removing additional oil contaminated sediment from the wetlands area and stockpilling the oil-affected soil within a bermed staging area. As of 1700hrs on August 10, 2007, ExxonMobil reported that approximately 1750 barrels of oil/water mix was returned to their process system. The oil/water mix quantity total includes fresh water which is was used to wash the banks of the creek.
Exxon plans to continue their cleanup activities. Flushing and collection operations will be concluded on August 11, 2007 and the water and vacuum trucks will be demobilized. Exxon personnel and Exxon contractors plan to increase crew size on 08/11/2007 to facilitate the collection of oil covered debris/vegetation along the banks of the creek and recover sediments within the creek.
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