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.
Due to rain/snow on 01/29/05, the Kentucky River has risen, and the current has increased. This caused major boom failure at the primary collection point in Division C. The increased current in the Kentucky River also caused the booms downsteam of the primary collection point to be ineffective, and black oil reached the Ohio River on 01/31/05 at approximately 1800 hrs.
Over 45,000 gallons of crude oil product has been recovered to date.
Current status of federal resources deployed to the incident are as follows:
EPA Region 4 - 2 OSCs, 1 Ass't. Information Officer
EPA Region 5 - 2 OSCs
EPA ERT - 2
EPA contractors (START) - 5
USCG GST - 6
NOAA - 1
Mid-Valley Pipeline (MVPL) has mobilized additional personnel and equipment in order to mitigate the loss of product. These resources have been deployed to collect oil product at an abandoned asphalt plant, Lock #1, the Paddle Boat, and Point Park (at the confluence of the Kentucky River and the Ohio River). Steps taken during this reporting period have greatly reduced the amount of oil reaching the Ohio River.
On 02/01/05 Mid-Valley's crews repositioned the booms and skimmers to enhance the recovery of the spilled oil. Due to the increased current, a large amount of debris is floating on the river. The floating debris has caused problems with the containment boom and recovery operations. Work crews are taking steps to reduce the impact of the debris on collection efforts.
On 02/01/05, the Environmental Unit conducted an overflight beginning on the Kentucky River at the pipeline break point, to the confluence of the Kentucky River and the Ohio River. Aerial recon continued downstream on the Ohio River, from the mouth of the Kentucky River to the McAlpin Lock & Dam at Louisville, KY. On the Ohio River, the overflight revealed a heavy black oil slick covering approximately 1/3 of the river traveling along the Kentucky shoreline from the mouth of the Kentucky River to Madison, IN. Downstream of Madison, IN, the oil thinned to a sheen and continued until it passed over the McAlphine dam. Pockets of oil were observed at intermittent locations in the Ohio River along the Kentucky shoreline over a distance of 25 miles downstream from the Kentucky River.
A news conference was held at the ICP on 02/01/05. The news media were escorted to Point Park in Carrollton, KY to observe the cleanup activities taking place at the confluence of the Kentucky River and the Ohio River. Press reports emphasize that public drinking water utilities along the affected areas of the Ohio River are reporting no impacts to the water supply.
MVPL continues containment and removal operations on the Kentucky River, and plans to initiate booming and recovery operations on the Ohio River, as appropriate.
The Environmental Unit will begin a SCAT survey along the Ohio River to determine the shoreline impact of the spill. Estaimates are that it will take up to 3 days to complete this assessment. They are also coordinating with ORSANCO, the States of Indiana and Kentucky, and the Louisville Water Dspartment on sampling activities along the Ohio River.
Continue to assess the containment and recovery activities.
Begin decon of equipment in Division B.
Keep the public informed of cleanup activities.
Continue the assessment of the impact of oil along the Ohio River.
Begin transporting recovered product to a pump station where in will be injected into the pipeline. Begin disposal of contaminated debris, and decant water collected during the skimming operation.
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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