On January 25, 2009, the R7 Duty Officer received a call from the NRC reporting a release of approximately 1,500 barrels of crude oil due to a pipeline break. There was a drop in pressure at 0804, but the location of the release was not discovered until 1030. The release occurred approximately 1 mile south and .5 miles west of Maple City, Kansas, in a rural cattle pasture, less than 2 miles due north of the Oklahoma border. The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund was opened by the R7 Duty Officer.
On January 26, 2009, OSCs Schademann and Brunkhorst deployed to the site and met with Kyle Parker from KDHE. The Responsible Party (Magellan Pipeline Company, L.P.) and their contractors had been on-site since the previous day. Upon arrival on-site, approximately 1,000 barrels of crude oil/water mixture had been recovered and was being transported via a transport truck to a refinery in El Dorado, Kansas. A large trench had been excavated to expose the ruptured pipeline. The rupture had occurred near the top of the pipe, and oil had been sprayed and then flowed down an intermittent creek. The intermittent creek flows approximately .5 miles to Shellrock Creek. Two earthen dams had been established, and no product was visible downgradient of the second dam. Crews will be working for several weeks to repair the pipeline and complete spill cleanup.
Contracting crews are currently working to evaluate causes of the break and repair the pipeline with oversight from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Recovery of crude oil will continue as conditions allow.
Magellan indicated that they planned to use the surface washing agent Enviroclean to flush the remaining oil to one of the earthen dams. The mixture would then be recovered by vacuum trucks. Enviroclean is on the NCP Product Schedule. On January 27, OSC Schademann contacted Bob Stewart of the U.S. Department of the Interior and Liz Jones of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who both approved of the use of Enviroclean. Leo Henning of KDHE was also contacted and concurred with the use of Enviroclean. In the case that the “flushing” technique does not work, soil excavation may be required, and Magellan and KDHE have begun exploring this option.
KDHE will continue to monitor activities several times a week. EPA may return to the site in the coming week to monitor the situation if the “flushing” technique is used.
Cold weather conditions, along with ice and snow, continue to hinder operations.
|
