On 15 August 2005, a semi-truck trailer leased by Orr Trucking Company (RP) transporting a suspected asphalt emulsion material overturned on Idaho State Highway at Milepost 99. The trailer was reportedly carrying 2100 gallons of material, of which an estimated 1500 gallons spilled onto the roadway. Of this amount, an unknown quantity spilled down the roadway embankment and reached the adjacent North Fork Payette River, a navigable water of the US. Initial emergency response was provided by Idaho State Police (ISP), Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), Valley County Sheriff (VCS), and an Idaho Regional Response Team (RRT). EPA was notified of the incident by Idaho State Communications and was subsequently requested to provide assistance. Due to the inability of the RP to fund clean-up activities, EPA activitated its ERRS contractor to conduct cleanup activities in concert with state and local law enforcement, transportation, and environmental authorities. The material was a suspected mixture of asphalt cement (66%), water (33%), and a polymer and emulsifer (1%). EPA initially opened the OSLTF for $50,000, but after it was determined that the EPA would need to fund the clean-up the ceiling was raised to $250,000 in consultation with NPFC personnel. No additional oil was observed entering the river after the initial release, and with the exception of minor surface sheening, the river did not appear to be impacted with floating oil.
EPA and START personnel arrived the morning of 16 August and promptly integrated into Unified Command with ISP, ITD, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ), and VCS. Once it was determined that the RP was unable to fund cleanup activities, EPA activated its ERRS contractor which arrived the same day. Region 10's mobile command post was mobilized to the site on 17 August. National Resource Trustees (DOI and DOC), as well as an American Indian Tribe were notified. No ESA concerns were reported nor were any impacts to recreationists or wildlife reported. EPA also alerted downstream water suppliers.
Sampling and cleanup activities started late afternoon on 16 August. Product and media samples were collected for field and laboratory analyses. On the morning of 17 August, responsibility for traffic management was assumed from ITD, roadway cleanup activities were started, and a dive team conducted an underwater assessment of the near river shoreline. Once the assessment was complete, divers removed an estimated 7 to 10 gallons of visible product from beneath the water surface. Analytical data received late afternoon of 17 August revealed that no actionable concentrations were exceeeded for the suspected contaminants of concern. Moreover, the data revealed that any residual product remaining within the embankment rip-rap or otherwise lost to the river would not present a chronic threat to human health or the environment. Cleanup activities conducted on 18 August focused on the continued removal of free product from the roadway surface and embankment, where practical, and restoration of traffic through the incident site.
None. All emergency response were completed by the end of the day on 18 August 2005.
The incident occurred along a narrow, two-lane segment of Highway 55, which is a major north/ south throughfare. Moreover, the North Fork Payette River is a prized recreational resource, used extensively for fishing, kayaking, rafting, and swimming.
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