On Tuesday, March 18, 2008, U.S. EPA OSC Jon Gulch responded to an oil spill on Otter Creek (a tributary of Lake Erie) at the border of Oregon and Toledo, Ohio. At approximately 11:15 EST, U.S. EPA (EPA) was notified of the spill by Toledo Environmental Services (TES). The spill was a sheen in the river of unknown source, but due to its location on the Toledo and Oregon, Ohio border, was likely a pipeline. Containment boom was placed by the Northern Ohio and Michigan Mutual Aide District (NOMMAD), which is a local refinery/pipeline association and the spill was contained. The U.S. Coast Guard-MSU Toledo (USCG) responded and functioned as the lead federal responder due to response area designation in the Area Committee Plan. EPA remained on-site to provide technical support to USCG.
On Tuesday, March 18, 2008, the Oregon Fire Department (OFD) was notified by a resident of sheen on Otter Creek. OFD immediately called the Sunoco Oil Spill Response Team and the Northern Ohio and Michigan Mutual Aide District (NOMMAD) to provide mutual aid. An undetermined amount of what appeared to be light cycle oil was pooling on the ground and moving through the storm sewers into Otter Creek. Sunoco emergency response and hazmat personnel responded to the site and began to contain the oil in the creek to prevent migration towards the Maumee River. Vacuum Trucks were deployed to the creek location to remove the oil. Toledo refinery employees began investigating to identify the source and cause of the leak. All appropriate local, state and federal authorities were notified, including Toledo Environmental Services (TES), OEPA, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and the National Response Center. At approximately 11:15 EST, U.S. EPA (EPA) was notified of the spill by Toledo Environmental Services (TES). Sunoco personnel worked in conjunction with the Oregon Fire and Police Departments and the U.S. Coast Guard. Oregon Fire Department decided residences in the vicinity of the containment efforts were in no danger and no notification action was taken. Sunoco health and safety personnel conducted atmospheric monitoring to ensure the safety of employees, contractors and neighbors and no airborne containments were detected. The USCG responded and functioned as the lead federal responder due to response area designation in the Area Committee Plan. EPA remained on-site to provide technical support to USCG.
By the end of the day, rough estimates indicated that the spill, which was believed to be light cycle oil cut with diesel, could be in the thousands of gallons. Field responders from TES, USCG, EPA and Ohio EPA (OEPA) continued to investigate the source of the oil in Otter Creek and eventually found a large pool of oil on the ground in a remote area above a Sunoco Pipeline. Sunoco Refinery immediately took responsibility for the release and notified the National Response Center of the release. Containment and recovery efforts continue 24-hours until further notice.
On Wednesday, March 19, 2008, an Operational Briefing occurred to discuss the Incident Action Plan (IAP) for the Sunoco-Toledo Refinery oil spill and included an update of the situation and a walkthrough of the IAP with plans for the next operational period (0800-1800, 3/19/08). Objectives include: maintenance of boom and oil recovery operations; completion of an entry road to leak source; excavation of the leak area to locate the pipeline leak; inspection of the line/repair per DOT Requirement, update of the Agencies involved in the response; and completion of an initial environmental assessment.
In the afternoon of Wednesday, March 19, 2008, Sunoco’s environmental consultants conducted the site reconnaissance, using two crews, inspecting Otter Creek from Starr Avenue to the mouth of Otter Creek (at the Maumee River). Information collected will be reviewed and maps produced. Sunoco and their consultants observed entire spill area and impacted waterways using a helicopter.
The following items were noted from the day’s reconnaissance efforts:
- From British Petroleum (BP) wastewater outfall to Otter Creek, there were minor sheens noted on the surface water;
- Minor Sheens observed along the Maumee at the Mallard Street overpass minor to moderate sheen observed;
- At the Seamen Road overpass, an underflow dam was installed, vacuum truck operations and absorbent booms positioned. Moderate sheen observed. The observed oil impact on the surface water of the creek was reduced due to the functioning of the underflow dam.
- Oil pooled on ground East of the release point in a culvert on the East side of the CSX Railroad tracks near suspect leak is transmitting oil to the East, pooling oil is present, and culvert leads to city storm sewers and additional swales, and
- Helicopter fly over observations noted pooling oil around investigative excavation at pipeline North of Starr Ave. Oil seen was observed on surface water in woods near excavation activities and oil sheen was heavy above underflow dams and greatly diminished to non-existent approaching the mouth of Otter Creek.
Due to the presence of at least five (5) pipelines in the remote area where the oil was found on the ground surface, the investigation into the source will not be complete until the excavation is finished. Based on the amount of oil on the surface of the ground at the source, Sunoco has estimated the volume of the leak at approximately 200 barrels.
USCG continues as the lead Agency on-site (per the ACP) and has requested that EPA provide technical assistance. Another Operational Briefing will occur on Thursday, March 20, 2008 @ 0900.
On Thursday, March 19, 2008, the investigative excavation operations were completed and revealed that the leak point source originated from an 8” Sunoco pipeline that is utilized for transportation of oil from Sunoco Refinery to the Sunoco-Hocking Valley Docks at the Maumee River. Due to the leak being in the 8" pipeline, it is possible that the leak has occurred over a long period of time and that the estimated quantity of oil released may be more than 200 barrels. Excavation operations will continue through the night to prepare excavation pit and area underneath pipeline for access space to replace an approximate 4' section of 8" pipeline. The access road to the excavation point was completed and will be maintained during operations. Operational areas away from the point source leak have designated booming and oil recovery operations as needed.
Sunoco will perform the following Removal Actions:
- Continue to remove oil pooled at the source location;
- Excavate impacted soils from the leak source and along migration routes;
- Continue water booming and oil recovery on Otter Creek;
- Properly dispose of all contaminated soil and oil/water; and
- Continue air monitoring at the leak source to protect workers.
On Friday, March 21, 2008, Sunoco and its contractors will attempt to replace an approximately 4' section of 8” pipeline where the leak was identified. Weld joints will be thoroughly inspected (8" welds will have x-ray analysis) from both the 8" and adjacent 6” pipeline which is located within same excavation pit. Sunoco’s environmental assessment team will continue the process of determining extent of oil impact and note important features such as impacts to property, environment and pathways of migration.
On Thursday, March 20, 2008, USCG provided a letter to EPA to relinquish the lead role for oversight of the response effort.
Booming and oil recovery operations will be maintained on a 24 hour basis and all waste (saturated absorbent boom/pads and impacted soils in roll-off boxes will be managed by Sunoco). Waste water collected from excavation pit and operational areas will be transported to Sunoco refinery and processed in an oil-water separator then decanted.
Operational Briefings will occur daily at 11:15 AM at the Incident Command Post.
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