On 1/26/2005 at approximately 0100 hrs., a 22-inch pipeline owned by Mid-Valley Pipeline (MVPL) ruptured and released an estimated 1500 barrels (over 60,000 gallons) of crude oil into the Kentucky River (NRC# 748277). The location of the break is along the north bank of the river at a point about 16 miles upstream of the confluence with the Ohio River. Art Smith of the EPA Region 4 Louisville, KY Outpost Office is the Federal On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) for this incident.
On 3/18/05, MVPL further updated the quantity of oil discharged as 6,251 barrels (over 260,000 gallons).
EPA demobilized all remaining USCG GST and START contractor resources by 02/09/05. NOAA and USFWS demobilized on 02/11/05, following completion of the Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Team (SCAT) recon activities.
OSC Smith was onscene on 02/14 to meet with the responsible party (MVPL) and state officials with IN and KY. Response actions completed on the Kentucky River on 02/10 rendered it clean, as agreed to by the Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Team (SCAT), comprised of reps from NOAA, US DOI, KYDEP and MVPL. EPA, USCG, KYDEP and MVPL participated in a survey of the Kentucky shoreline of the Ohio River by boat on 02/14 from MM546 to MM572. No evidence of any oil product or sheen was detected, due to the scouring action provided by a nearly 9ft. increase in river stage near Carrollton, KY. Much of this area was observed to have been oiled as recently as 02/11, before the river came up. Helicopter overflights conducted on 02/15 covered the Ohio River from north of Louisville to the Newburgh Locks. No evidence of an oil sheen was detected. MVPL retained a local cleanup contractor (The Evergreen Group) to respond to miscellaneous reports of recoverable oil product associated with the Jan. 26 pipeline spill, in the (unlikely) event that situation presents itself after water levels on the Ohio River recede.
Based on the findings of the 02/14-02/15 recon of river conditions, the OSC determined that the oil spill response was complete, pursuant to Section 300.320(b) of the NCP.
During this period, the OSC finalized a request for informal consultation with the Natural Resources Trustee, pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. This consultation began on an emergency basis during the incident response. EPA determined that the impacts of the spill response on potentially affected federally threatened and endangered species were not adversely affected. On 08/17/05, USFWS responded in writing, concurring with EPA's determination.
Also during this period, the OSC worked with reps from NOAA, USFWS, and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR), for purposes of certifying removal costs consistent with the terms and conditions of the Pollution Removal Funding Authorizations (PRFAs) issued previously for this oil spill response. The PRFAs to NOAA and USFWS were certified and paid during this reporting period. Certification of the PRFA issued to KDFWR is pending OSC review of eligible removal costs. A previously proposed PRFA with the KY Historical Preservation Office in the amount of $20,000 was not executed, as the recipient agency could not agree with standard terms and conditions of the PRFA.
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The Louisville Water Company (LWC) intake is located on the Ohio River, about 65 miles downstream of the pipeline break. While no adverse impacts to the water supply were reported, LWC performed emergency water treatment of their raw water because of odor problems associated with the spilled crude oil.
The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) monitored water quality at drinking water intakes during the period when crude oil was sighted in the Ohio River. ORSANCO reported that evidence of crude oil hydrocarbons in water samples along the Ohio River were detetcted as far downstream as Paducah, KY.
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