Two Adams County, Illinois agricultural levees failed in the early morning hours of June 18, 2008, near the town of Meyer, Illinois, and just south of the Mississippi River Lock & Dam 20. The levee breaches occurred near the same locations where heavy flooding was experienced in 1993. As a result of the 2008 levee failures, the entire town of Meyer had to be evacuated and over 8000 acres of adjacent farmland was flooded.
Around 6 a.m. on June 18, the Indian Graves south levee failed flooding nearly 4000 additional farm acres.
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) staff connected with the Emergency Operations Center located in Springfield, Illinois, requested assistance from the U. S. EPA Region 5 Emergency Response Branch to respond to a orphan fuel tank located on Lima Lake which is near the town of Meyer, Illinois. The fuel tank washed up in Lima Lake as a result of levee failure and flooding to the localized area. The exact date the tank became dislodged is yet known.
On-Scene Coordinator Jim Mitchell; ERRS Response Manager, John Behrens; and START Project Manger, Tom Binz mobilized to the flooded farmland area just west of Marceline, Illinois.
The orphan tank was located approximately 1.2 miles west of Bear Creek. The tank was resting just off of the levee a few feet into the flooded waters. Visual inspection confirmed that the tank was not leaking. It was determined that stabilization of the tank was warranted prior to any possible recovery of petroleum. OSC Mitchell, met with Mr. Dick Klusmeyer, County Engineer, of the Adams County Highway Department. Mr. Klusmeyer requested an inspection of the tank. It was during this inspection that the tank owner/operator was discovered to be the Lima Lake Pump and Drainage District. Additionally, OSC Mitchell had phone conversations with Jennifer McDermit, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Ms. Dianne Barnett, Commissioner, Lima Lake Levee District. OSC Mitchell discussed the stabilization measures that would be performed and requested information as to the stability of the levee for driving heavy equipment necessary for recovery of petroleum and removal of the tank.
Additional inspection found the tank to be in fair condition, having contents of diesel fuel (off-road dye indicated) and sitting in a near upright position. The tank is approximately 10,000 gallons in capacity having approximately 5,500 gallons remaining in the tank. There was no obvious sign that the tank leaked after it came to rest along the levee. After contacting the Lima Lake District civil engineer, Ms. Diane Barnett verbally expressed the Lima Lake Levee District Commissioners' decision not to take any actions to recover petroleum product due to the uncertain stability of the levee. The Lima Lake Pump and Drainage would take responsibility for the remaining petroleum product in the tank after the water has receded and conditions have stabilized. The following stabilization measures were performed by OSC Mitchell and contractors;
- The tank was stabilized by fastening heavy ropes to the tank anchored to metal posts driven into the levee bank.
- Several plugs were inserted into open ports on the tank as a precautionary measure.
- An 18-inch boom with oil absorbent sock was placed in the water around the tank as an additional precautionary measure.
The Lima Lake Levee Commissioner, Dianne Barnett, indicated a desire to remove the petroleum products after which time the waters recede and when the area is deemed safe for heavy equipment traffic. The OSC has requested e-mail confirmation from the Commissioner that the tank contents will be removed prior to the tank being recovered.
Because there is no confirmed release of petroleum materials and that the tank and contents are salvageable, no disposal is anticipated. It was also reported to the OSC that the tank was on its base Thursday (6/26)evening but was grounded in its current position by Saturday afternoon (6/28).
Await written confirmation of the levee district commissioner success in removing the tank and its contents. The OSC will instruct ERRS to collect the oil boom after the Levee District confirms removal of the petroleum products. The following was copied from an email from Ms. Dianne Barnett, Commissioner, Lima Lake Levee District.
"As commissioner of the Lima Lake Drainage District, I thank you for your assistance in securing the district's fuel tank by anchoring said tank to the levee. The contents of the tank are off-road diesel used by the
district pump house (located approximately 1 mile to the west of the current location of the tank) for pumping.
"No additional assistance is needed at this time. As flood waters recede and we can gain access to the area the district will be responsible for repositioning the tank at the pump station."
Levee stability.
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