On April 22, 2004, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) notified EPA Region 1 of an ongoing oil release which was threatening the Far Mill River, Isinglass Reservoir (potable water), and the Housatonic River. The original estimate was that 100 gallons of oil had been released and impacted catch basins, and potentially the Far Mill River and an unnamed pond. The home heating oil originated from a private residence at 31 Sorel Drive in Shelton, CT. A return line leading back from the furnace to the above ground storage tank (AST) located in the rear of the house had ruptured on an unknown date and heating oil migrated to the street in front of the residence. When the oil was released, it apparently encountered the existing curtain drain constructed around the house foundation and migrated to the street. Recent heavy rain forced the subsurface pool of oil into the catch basin in front of the house. The oil then flowed down gradient in the street drain and entered a culvert under Federal Avenue at the bottom of Sorel Drive. Once the oil exited the culvert, it flowed into a small retention pond on private property. The pond discharges to an unnamed brook which is connected to the Far Mill River within one half mile from the source. The Far Mill River flows into the Isinglass Reservoir which is used for drinking water and then continues as the Far Mill River. The Far Mill River then connects downstream to the Housatonic River which feeds Long Island Sound.
The oil release had originally been reported to the CT DEP on April 14, 2004, but as mentioned earlier, was not reported to the EPA until April 22. Based on the substantial threat to navigable waters, EPA On Scene Coordinator (OSC) Gary Lipson responded to the site on April 23 and met with the CT DEP and home owner. Actions taken to that point were limited to taking the 550 gallon AST off line, placing sorbent boom and pads into the private pond on the other side of Federal Avenue, pumping out the Sorel Drive catch basins, and placing additional sorbent boom into the catch basins. It was unknown if the recent rain had completely flushed out the oil, or if more remained in the ground. On April 26, the OSC spoke with the CT DEP who reported that heavy rain over the weekend forced additional oil out of the ground and had once again filled the catch basins and re-entered the pond. The OSC and CT DEP agreed that after the catch basins were pumped out again, subsurface investigative work was necessary to delineate the plume so oil recovery could begin. On April 27, OSC Lipson was on-site with the CT DEP while holes were driven into the lower section of the lawn and into the street via a Geoprobe, surrounding the initial catch basin. Once free product was encountered in one of the driven Geoprobe holes, a pit was excavated in that area where a pool of oil and a PVC drain pipe extending under the road was found. A vacuum truck was brought to the site to suck out the free product and a frac tank was mobilized to begin collecting the oil on a longer term basis. The OSC served the homeowner a Notice of Federal Interest. On April 28, CT DEP began excavating a trench in the road following the PVC pipe and flowing oil. The trench led approximately 40' to the base of the driveway where the oil was apparently running down below the driveway, believed to be originating from the broken line and curtain drain up at the rear of the house. Once the trench was excavated, free product and oily water were pumped from the trench into the frac tank. On April 29, the AST was pulled from the ground and another pool of oil was encountered which was also pumped to the frac tank. Additionally on April 29, free product was pumped from the frac tank for disposal and the oily water was pumped through a carbon filter system. The effluent was tested and released to the catch basins. Approximately 500 gallons of product has been recovered to date.
The CT DEP will be excavating around the tank area to determine the location of the tie-in to the subsurface drain around the residence. Once that is found, it will be isolated and flushed with water so the ensuing flow can be collected in the trench at the bottom of the driveway. This method, if successful, will allow the CT DEP to avoid digging up the approximate 100 foot driveway following the drainage path.
The OSC and CT DEP have agreed to enter into a Pollution Removal Funding Authorization (PRFA). The OSC developed the scope of work and submitted the appropriate paperwork to the United States Coast Guard, National Pollution Fund Center (NPFC) on 5/4/04.
On 4/26/04, OSC Lipson opened up a Federal Project Number with a ceiling of $2,000. Based on coordinated activities with the CT DEP and an anticipated PRFA, OSC Lipson raised the FPN ceiling to $50,000 on 4/29/04.
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