On January 18, 2008, at approximately 2130 hrs, OSC Spurlin was contacted by the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC) regarding a truck wreck near mm 179 on I-40 near Dickson, TN. At approximately 1930 hrs, a semi-truck carrying paper products ran off the interstate and wrecked directly into Nails creek which flows into Turnball creek. Diesel fuel from the truck saddle tanks, the refrigeration unit fuel supply tank, and other truck related fluids, such as hydraulic and lube oils, spilled into the creek. The City of Dickson Water Authority utilizes Turnball creek as a drinking water source with the intake being located 1-1.5 miles downstream from the spill. The intake is one of three intakes used for water supply to an estimated 45,000 county residents.
Due to the concern about the potential threat to the water intake, local fire crews placed absorbent boom in Nails creek and the water authority was notified of the discharge. The water intake was shut down.
TDEC requested EPA respond to the scene to assist with spill cleanup because no representatives from the responsible party could be contacted. OSC Spurlin mobilzed with ERRS contractor, US Environmental Services (USES), to assist with the cleanup. EPA arrived on-scene at 2330 hrs on January 18th. EPA, USES, and TDEC surveyed the creek. Additional boom was placed near the truck and EPA, USES ,and TDEC agreed to return to the site at 0600 the next day to continue efforts in daylight.
On January 19, EPA directed USES to place hard boom at two locations, install additional absorbent boom, and collect any oil that collects at the boom locations.
Over the weekend, EPA had USES maintain booms and collect any fuel when wrecker service disturbed wreck scene during recovery efforts.
The Dickson County Water Authority received citizen complaints related to odors from drinking water. Dickson sampled the system and results indicated no detectable contamination from the oil spill; however, oil sheen was observed an estimated 1.5 miles downstream.
From 1/19-1/23/08, EPA's environmental contractor, USES, maintained and monitored the booms in the creeks. They surveyed the creek for pockets of collectable oil, but only observed sporadic sheening on the creeks in insufficient quantities to recover by traditional methods (ie. pads, vac-truck, etc.)
Difficulty accessing the wreck area slowed the removal of the truck and trailer by the wrecker service. USES maintained a varying level of personnel on site dependent upon the level of activity scheduled related to the movement of the vehicle which could result in the release of trapped fuel downstream.
Once the truck and trailer removal was completed, USES removed all boom. The boom was containerized into 9, 55 gallon drums and transported for disposal to a Waste Management Inc. facility in Russellville, KY on January 28, 2008.
The estimated quantity of fuel released was less than 300 gallons which is lower than the typically spill size triggering EPA response;however, due to the potential for impacting a water supply and inability to contact the responsible party in a timely manner, EPA provided assistance.
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