On March 19th, EPA ERRB responded to an oil well fire in Oliver Springs Tenn. The RP, Walden Resources hired Wild Well Services from Houston, Texas to put out the well fire and cap the well. After mobing necessary personnel and equipment, the fire was extinguished and the well was successfully capped on Tuesday March 25th. EPA and START contractors conducted air monitoring throughout the response effort and conducted daily public meetings to keep the local residents aprised of the response effort. During the effort on March 25th however, the RP was found to be dumping oil contaminated water from the retention ponds onto a pasture approximately 3/4 mile from the well site. On Wednesday, March 26th, the OSC informed the RP that EPA would be taking over the clean up under a Federal Assumption Notice.
March 27th thru April 2nd.
Personnel On Site: EPA -4 (OSCs P Gaughan and C Eger transitioned with OSCs C. Williamson, B. Franco), START-2, USCG Strike - 2, ERRs -13
After the Federal Assumption Notice was issued, the OSC tasked ERRs (CMC Inc.) to begin mobing in equipment and personnel to the site. On Wednesday and Thursday March 26th and 27th, twelve laborers with equipment were mobed in to begin contaminated soil removal, oil and water collection fom the retention ponds and fire debris removal from the site. Heavy rains on Friday and Saturday, March 28th and 29th forced ERRs contractors to spend considerable effort in collecting oil and rain water mix coming from the well hillside. Additional frac tanks were brought in and staged at the upper Partin pasture for oil and water collection. Over 100,000 gallons of water were collected over a four day period. OSC Williamson continued to address individual property concerns with property owners and the RV park owner. 3500 gallons of oil were collected from retention pond No. 1 and staged in a frac tank.
A public meeting was held on Friday, March 28th to review activites for the week and to address concerns from local residents. Anderson Co EMA’s Steve Payne, Sheriff Paul White and TDEC were in attendance. TDEC’s Jeff Laxton addressed technical concerns with regard to the well and EPA addressed environmental and air monitoring concerns.
EPA will continue to coordinate clean up efforts and with TDEC and TEMA officials.
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