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).
On 28 August 2008, the Potentially Responsible Party’s (PRP) remediation contractor, Miller Environmental, began remediation of fuel oil impacted soil and concrete under the north end of U.S Highway 181 ramp. Miller Environmental continued to lay #5 aggregate on the western side of the US-181 ramp during clean up operations.
Soil remediation included removal of oily soil and grass, by utilizing backhoes and a front end loader. Oily debris such as soil and grass is placed into roll off boxes for offsite transportation and disposal. Oily debris that is not remediated today has been covered with plastic sheeting to protect from storm water contact.
Concrete remediation of the highway decline involved utilizing a pressure washer containing hot water (approximately 140 degrees) to remove the fuel oil from the concrete. Oily water runoff that comes in contact with the fuel oil is captured in a clay lined sump located at the bottom of the decline and recovered by vacuum truck for offsite transportation and disposal.
At 1500 the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the United States Coast Guard, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), City of Corpus Christi, Enterprise Trucking, Miller Environmental, Garner Environmental Services, and EPA START-3 contractors attended a command and coordination meeting to discuss current and future clean up operations of the current spill.
The PRP clean up contractors will continue to remove oil impacted soil and grass from the areas along US-181 and Interstate 37. Scaffolding will be placed around fuel oil impacted highway columns in preparation for clean up operations. The scaffolding will be surrounded by plastic sheeting, and the columns will be pressure washed utilizing hot water.
TxDOT will review the US-181 ramp for safety and integrity utilizing equipment from San Antonio and fuel from US-181 roadway with absorbent sand.
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 the US-181 Northbound ramp remains closed for clean up operations.
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