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 Tuesday August 14th, 2007. One Bull-dozer, one backhoe, one vacuum truck and one 30cu yard Roll-off box are onsite. ExxonMobil personnel and contractors continued to recover oily debris and sediments from within the creek channel focusing on areas that required additional manual corrective action. A backhoe was used to remove oil-affected soil/debris and used to remove part of the previously constructed access road/dike closing of the creek. Personnel continued to remove oil-affected soil flagged the previous work period.
Exxon plans to continue their cleanup activities. As of 1530hrs activities scheduled for tomorrow (08/15/2007) are set to remain targeting areas identified as "require further corrective action" as the creek has been extensively surveyed/inspected over the last two days. This will include the use of a backhoe and manual attention. The temporary access roads/dikes constructed across the creek will be removed to re-install the creeks natural channel and flow.
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