On 1/26/2005 at approximately 0100 hrs., a 22-inch pipeline owned by Mid-Valley Pipeline 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 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.
Mid-Valley Pipeline (MVPL) completed repairs to the damaged section of the pipeline and expects to resume operations within the next 24 hours, upon approval from US DOT, Office of Pipeline Safety. Oil recovery activities on the Kentucky River at a location approximately 8 miles downstream from the pipeline break (Division C) continue. To date, approximately 40,000 gallons of crude oil product have been recovered via mechanical means (e.g., vessel-mounted skimmers). Recovered product is stored in frac tanks, awaiting transportation to MVPL facilities for processing and reuse. Additional booms remain downstream of Division C in the Kentucky River below the 8-mile point to contain any product extending beyond the major collection point.
The Environmental Unit (EU) completed air monitoring operations, as all readings were within acceptable limits for potential exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons. In particular, no measurable concentrations of benzene vapors in air were observed.along the impacted area, and since no significant levels have been observed. The EU continues daily water sampling operations to evaluate for potential exceedances of water quality standards established by the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (KYDEP. EU represention onscene includes reps from EPA, KYDEP, ORSANCO, NOAA, and MVPL. An onsite mobile analytical lab is being set up to produce sample results more rapidly.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife personnel continue field operations designed to identify and recover injured geese and other migratory bird species which have been affected by the oil spill.
Additional emphasis on increasing the rate of oil product recovery at Division C, to minimize the degree to which chemical constituents dissolve into the water column.
- Continue to demobilize equipment and personnel as determined by tactics meetings and demob plan
- Move incident command post from KY National Guard facility to another facility in Carrollton, KY by 02/03/05, if still needed.
The Unified Command (UC) has completed a "Transition Plan" for the incident. Criteria established for purposes of determining when the emergency response phase of the incident is complete are:
- Free floating black oil has been recovered to an extent that booms are no longer needed to prevent an additional discharge of oil product in areas where containment has been established;
- Pipeline has been repaired and put back into service;
- Media and public interest in the incident is low with no foreseeable increase in interest;
- Operations have become routine and predictable, and night operations have ceased, and;
- There are no acute impacts to drinking water supplies or natural resources.
The EPA OSC anticipates that these criteria will be met by 02/04/05. All EPA personnel and EPA-contracted resources, as well as other Federal Agency personnel assigned to the incident, are expected to be demobilized by this date. Discussions are underway within the UC to facilitate transition for the State IC role from KY DEM to KY DEP within this period.
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