NRC# 892538 Liquid Transfer Caustic Spill, St Marks, Wakulla County, Florida.
On Monday, Dec 15th, approximately 1000 gallons of sodium hydroxide was released from a faulty gasket on a pipeline connected to an above ground storage tank at the Liquid Transfer Facility in St. Marks, Florida. The product flowed to an adjacent tidal creek before ultimately releasing some of the product into the St. Marks River. A Unified Command was established between EPA, USCG, FDEP, County EMA, DOI and the RP. Response efforts included stabilizing the leaking gasket, sampling the impacted water bodies, conducting water patrols to ensure endangered/threatened species did not enter the area (manatees, migratory birds, alligators, etc.), damming up the tidal creek and pumping out the majority of the contaminated water (ph12+) from the tidal creek. The contaminated water was transferred to a containment area on-site and will be properly treated and disposed of in the next few days. The Unified Command will reconvene on the morning of Dec 16th to incorporate further response actions (flushing of the creek, sampling, monitoring, etc.). OSC Chris Russell (850) 274-1575
