On August 10, 2008, an oil pipeline failure occurred releasing an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 barrels of Mississippi Sweet Crude Oil in the early morning sometime before 7:30 am. Marathon Pipeline called the National Response Center to report the release. The release is located in a rural area 6 miles east of Fairfield, Illinois in Wayne County. The release area is situated in an open field with some trees surrounding it. Elm Creek and various drainage ditches are located to the southwest and southeast. Elm Creek drains into the Little Wabash River. A slough area and woods are to the east and a cornfield is situated just beyond that. County road 1100 North is to the north and soybean fields beyond that. There are no residences located near the release site, nor within the affected area.
OSC Turner was notified at approximately 11:00 central time that the release occurred. At 14:00 hours OSC Turner and START arrived at the release site. Marathon Pipeline activated their response team. The pipeline within the open field where the release occurred had burst causing an 8 foot deep hole and releasing oil into the surrounding trees. The crude oil discharged to the east and south from the release site. Thousands of gallons of crude oil have been observed in several sloughs located to the east of the release site. Multiple vacuum trucks are currently collecting the crude oil from Elm Creek and the various sloughs in the area. Elm Creek currently has no flow and booms are in place to contain the crude oil for collection. Additional booms were placed further down stream, where Elm Creek drains into Little Wabash River, as precautionary measures. Booms are placed around the water intake for the city of Fairfield as a precautionary measure. A helicopter is being utilized to give aerial reconnaissance. One duck has been observed near the release area and had oil stained feathers. It has eluded capture.
Marathon Pipeline has obtained access from all the affected property owners. The public roads leading to the release site are blocked off.
Air monitoring is being performed by Marathon Pipeline health and safety personnel. No public have been affected by this release. The air monitoring is being conducted for workers safety. The air monitoring results showed the breathing air contained no benzene or hydrogen sulfide. The lower explosive limit (LEL) was 0 %. Elevated benzene levels were detected within the release area. Further work within this area is being evaluated.
The Marathon Pipeline Corporate Emergency Response Team (CERT) arrived on site to lead the emergency response.
Excavate and dispose of the soil that is contaminated with crude oil.
Making access roads to reclaim the crude oil
Recovery of the wetlands
|
