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.
April 2nd thru April 4th, 2008.
Personnel On Site: EPA -1 (OSC P Gaughan), NPFC -1 ( M Bella), START-2, USCG Strike - 2, ERRs -13
ERRs continued transfer of oil and water from Retention Ponds 1 and 2, continued clearing fire debris from the well hillside, staging contaminated soil, and solidifying oily sludge from Retention Pond No. 1. Approximately 140,000 gallons of oil saturated water has been collected, 4000 gallons of oil and 1000 cubic yards of contaminated soil have been staged to date. Heavy rains on Thursday April 3rd and Friday April 4th hampered clean up efforts to some extent.
NPFCs Case Officer Miguel Bella met with the RP, Dan Potts of Walden Resources on Thursday, April 3rd to discuss NPFC's roll in the clean up effort as well as legal and claims issues.
After the OSC reviewed the site conditions and future work plan with NPFC's Miguel Bella, additional funding to complete the removal clean up were secured from NPFC.
A public meeting was held on Friday, April 4th to review ERRs activities and address local concerns. Anderson Co EMA Steve Payne, TDEC’s Jeff Laxton, TEMA’s Ken Fritts and EPA answered local concerns. Most of the concerns centered around claims issues through NPFC, public utility issues and road repair issues after the clean up is complete. EPA will coordinate road repairs with Anderson County DOT’s Gary Long.
EPA will continue to coordinate clean up efforts with Tenn TEMA and TDEC Oil and Gas Jeff Laxton, and Mike Burton.
|
