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Robersonville Fuel Spill

 
Site Contact:
Benjamin Franco
OSC

(franco.benjamin@epa.gov)

Site Location:
800 West Green Street
Robersonville, NC 27871
 response.epa.gov/robersonville
NRC#: 1207109

On March 18, 2017, NC EMA reported a potentially 5,000-gallon fuel spill at an abandoned industrial plant. The valve of an AST was reportedly knocked off during an act of vandalism, and the fuel emptied from the tank into the facility's storm water management system. the fuel was then channeled across the street and into Daniels Creek. OSC Franco was mobilized to conduct the response as no property owner could be ascertained by NC EMA.


Approximately 15,000 gallon tank containing heating oil that leaked. Spill route within the facility. The oil left the tank and into secondary (building) and through a hole in the secondary containment wall that contained conduit pipe. The oil pooled in the facility and entered a drain that feeds to an underground pit located in the building. The Former Purdue Plant was designed to manage all the water that fell in the facility, but the system is not functioning.. There is a secondary vault by the loading dock that receives water from the loading dock. All of the underground vaults were most likely full of water and during a rain storm it pushed the oil and water back out to the loading dock. The loading dock has drainage to the street and a storm sewer. Spill pathway from back of processing plant. oil migration patway inside the facility. Spill path in front of loading dock. oil migration pathway outside the facility near loading dock entrance. Removing oil from unnamed creek. Sump area inside the facility that is receiving water and oil from the facility. EPA's contractor is emptying out the sump using a vac truck. Night operations, EPA ERRS contractor is removing pooled oil from an unnamed creek. The Pit designed to receive the facility's storm water runoff. ERRS emtied out the oil, water and sludge by vac truck. Stained oil surfaces along the spill path. Oiled contaminated debris The above ground storage tank was surrounded by a building with a roof cutout to allow the vertical tank go through it. The oil inside of the building left through a conduit hole in the wall. Drums staged for sampling and hazcatting Lab Chemicals used for water sampling found in a room. They are staged for lab packing. Materials suspected to be sodium hydroxide. Material was removed by ERRS and the room was cleaned. Room containing sodium hydroxide drums. Oil migrating from the loading dock to West Green St. Frac tanks brought in by EPA's ERRS contractor. Oil and oil/water mix was removed from creek and facility and transferred to these tanks. Each one has a 20,000 gallon capacity. Area after being pressured washed by ERRS. Loading dock area and West Green Street. Removing oil from drainage in loading dock area. Condemnation notice ordered by Martin County Code Enforcement. EPA START contractor Tetra Tech taking sample of a drum. The samples were hazard categorized using field tests. ERRS removing pool oiled from the facility. Rain event after pressure washing surfaces indicated minimum sheening ERRS is pressure washing the floor surrounding the pit. ERRS flushing the banks of unnamed creek. This freed oil trapped in vegetation and sediment along the banks. Filter used for polishing water leaving oil water separator. Oil/water separator used for processing water in a submerged pit. A smaller vault that receives water from the loading dock. A minor sheen was observed. Rainwater collecting at the loading dock. No sheen observed. Water collecting in the loading dock. No sheen observed. Water collecting near the back property of the was heavily impacted by oil when the spill occurred. This picture shows very little sheen observed. Sign of closed facility. Ministry that was inside the facility's footprint. Loading dock that lead to the cold storage that used to be in operation. Day care center located west of the facility just outside of the fence line.
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