On August 27, 2007, the National Response Center notified the United States Coast Guard (USCG) of a fuel truck spill in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas. A truck transport owned by Enterprise Transport was reported to have had a vehicular accident, at 0930, at the northbound exit ramp at the intersection of I-37 and US-181. The vehicular accident caused the 6,600 gallon tank to rupture and discharging approximately 5,800 gallons of #6 diesel fuel oil. The fuel oil threatened to flow though a storm sewer directly into Corpus Christi Bay. Although a small amount of fuel oil did get into the storm sewer, the Corpus Christi Fire Department responded and constructed berms to contain the oil. The area experienced rain showers during the initial response effort, which threatened to further exacerbate the situation.
EPA mobilized OSC Leos and the EPA Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) to the site to assess the reported spill and coordinate with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
At 1430 EPA START-3 technical assistance contractors were activated to respond to the release. Upon arrival, EPA contractors coordinated response activities with the Potentially Responsible Party’s (PRP) remediation contractor Miller Environmental, TCEQ, and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
The release was due to a vehicular accident, only involving a tanker truck transporting the #6 diesel fuel. The fuel discharged onto the U.S. Highway 181 (US-181) ramp flowing Southeast and Northwest off of the ramp onto I-37 below. Approximately 300 yards of asphalt, several highway support columns, and 6 soil/grass areas located underneath US-181 have been impacted by the spill. One lane from the US-181 ramp and South bound I-37 are closed to traffic to traffic to allow for clean up operations of oily debris.
Upon the release the Corpus Christi Fire Department covered and placed directional berms at 2 storm water inlets on US-181 and 4 inlets on I-37. PRP contractors have positioned 700 feet of absorbent boom and plastic sheeting with sand to protect the surrounding the Corpus Christi Bay storm water discharge inlets, Sand had been utilized on the roadways to absorb and clean the oiled roadways to prevent any accidents. All sand with oily debris once used is removed and disposed of according to environmental regulations.
At approximately 2000 hrs. EPA OSC Leos met with the PRP clean up contractor Miller Environmental, TCEQ and TxDOT and conducted a walk though of clean up progress that has been made. Additional resources such as a vacuum truck and bull dozer have been ordered for use in the clean up operations.
The PRP remediation contractors will continue to remove fuel from US-181 roadway with absorbent sand. The clean up of diesel fuel stained soil, grass, and support columns along US-181 and I-37 South will also be addressed.
The EPA and TCEQ will continue to monitor the PRPs response activities at the incident.
Ensure that storm water inlets are protected to ensure that fuel impacted water does not enter into the Corpus Christi Bay.
The western side of US-181 Northbound ramp remains closed for clean up operations.
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