On 1/26/2005 at approximately 0100 hrs., a 22-inch pipeline owned by Mid-Valley Pipeline ruptured and released 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 15 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. The nearest drinking water intake is located in Louisville, KY, approximately 40 miles downstream of the final collection point established in the Kentucky River.
Mid-Valley Pipline continued assessing damage to the pipeline and removing oil from the pipeline in the vicinity of the break. Significant oil recovery has occurred on the Kentucky River at a location approximately 8 miles from the pipeline break. Approximately, 50,000 gallons of oil-water mixture have been recovered utilizing skimmers and stored in frac tanks.
Additional booms have been placed in the Kentucky River below the 8-mile point to contain any product extending beyond the major collection point.
Organization of the IMT was evaluated and the UC's agreed that the environmental unit would be a government representative.
Environmental unit has been conducting air monitoring along the impacted area, and since no significant levels have been observed, air monitoring will be terminated. However, Mid-Valley Pipeline will still continue health and safety monitoring in the work zones. Environmental unit has also worked out procedures for decanting oil-water mixture, decon of impacted equipment, and disposal of contaminated debris.
The member of the Environmental unit are coodinating to identify the extent to which dissolved petroleum hydrocarbons have entered the Ohio River.
U.S. and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife are onsite assisting with impacted wildlife.
Mid-Valley Pipeline will continue to assess the break area and repair the pipeline when the assessment is completed. They will also continue oil removal operations at boom locations on the Kentucky River. Additional booms will be deployed and booms will be redeployed as needed.
Decanting of oil-water mixture will begin soon. KNDP approved sampling plan will be implemented by the RP on 1/29/05. Shoreline survey will become a focus of the Environmental unit. A mobile laboratory will be onsite on Saturday for analysis of the water samples collected.
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