On October 17, 2004, the National Response Center (NRC) was notified of a discharge of an unknown quantity of crude oil and salt water (NRC Report No. 738626) from an onshore oil production facility located near Bowie, Montague County, Texas. The caller indicated that a faulty valve in the oil/water separator malfunctioned resulting in the discharge. On October 17, 2004 the NRC notified the EPA Region 6 Response and Prevention Branch (EPA RPB). On October 17, 2004, the EPA RPB activated the EPA Region 6 Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START-2) contractor to mobilize to the site on October 18, 2004 and initiate all relevant response actions.
On October 18 2004, START-2 contractors mobilized to the site and met with representatives of Wolsey Well Service, Inc, the Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) and property owners. According to the PRP representative, on October 17, 2004, a float valve in the oil/water separator became stuck causing an overflow of the separator and the discharge of crude oil and salt water. The discharged crude oil and salt water flowed northeast approximately 500 feet and entered an unnamed intermittent creek which is currently dry. The crude oil and saltwater then flowed approximately 1000 feet down the creek bed. Approximately 60 barrels of crude oil was recovered from the creek with vacuum trucks on October 17, 2004 and transferred to crude oil storage tanks onsite. Two earthen dams were constructed downstream of the discharge in the creek to prevent further migration of the oil and salt water. START-2 observed no oil in the creek downstream of the earthen dam. PRP-led cleanup crews were onsite washing the remaining crude oil and salt water in the spill pathway and creek bed with water to flush the oil to a collection point where the water and oil is being collected and removed with vacuum trucks.
EPA will coordinate with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and Texas Railroad Commission (TRRC) to monitor cleanup efforts at the site..
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