On 28 April 2005 at approximately 09:30 EDT, a highway tanker ran off of GA Highway 75 and overturned down an embankment onto the National Forest impacting headwaters to the Hiawassee River. The tanker contained 9200 gallons of gasoline, on- and off-road diesel fuel. Approximately 800 gallons of gasoline was transferred from the wrecked tanker into a sound tanker. The rest of the product was discharged to the environment. Some oil ran overland to streams, some seeped into the soil and was observed weeping out into several springs within 100 yards of the impact site.
Responders included the local Fire and EMA Team, USFS, GA EPD, EPA, GA F&W, and several contractors and consultants for the Responsible Party (RP). Efforts, initially led by the Forest Service and local emergency response, effectively contained the majority of the oil. Contractors for the RP reinforced the containment effort and began recovery of the oil.
The RP continued to maintain the oil recovery and monitoring effort for the next 12 months. By June 2006 observations of significant oil weeping into the surface waters of the National Forest had ceased. The RP continued to monitor the wells and surface water including laboratory analysis of the ground water. Water levels were approximately 11 feet below land surface(BLS) and BTEX concentrations ranging from non-detect to the single digits PPM. One isolated observance of free-product was encountered in September 2006. This event has not been replicated.
During this reporting period the RP continued to sample the monitor wells on Site as well as the surface water for hydrocarbons. There have been no more observations of free product.
In March 2007, the RP began decommisioning the Site according to an approved plan. Phase I of the plan included removing the underflow dams and unaffected wells. The soil from the underflow dams had been contaminated with oil and were disposed off-site. The RP then restored the stream beds to US Forest Service specifications.
In April 2007 Phase II of the plan was implemented. This phase was to install a grid of passive soil gas vapor sampling tubes in an approved pattern surrounding monitor well #3 (the well with observed free product). No significant hydrocarbons were detected.
After approximately six months of continued ground water monitoring and surface water observations both indicating no significant oil present, the Unified Command and Trustees agreed to complete decommissioning of the Site. In October 2007 the RP completed proper closure of all monitor wells and is working with USFS to restore the haul roads to a more natural grade and landscape.
There is no more pollution-related activity being conducted at the Site.
Complete restoration activity in accordance with USFS specification.
At the final Site visit, the RP, Andy Williams of Explorer Transport stated, "the US Forest Service really saved the day on this one." Mr Williams was appreciative of the quick response work performed by the USFS that minimized the extent of contamination. Further, the USFS has continued with a friendly cooperative attitude throughout the entire clean-up. Those factors are believed to have contributed enormously to the succesful clean-up of this oil spill.
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