U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Huntington Beach Channel Oil Spill - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IX
|
|
Subject:
|
POLREP #1
Federal Lead Transition, Initial EPA POLREP
Huntington Beach Channel Oil Spill
Huntington Beach, CA
Latitude: 33.8550499 Longitude: -118.3903683
|
|
To:
|
|
|
From:
|
Robert Wise, OSC
|
|
Date:
|
1/28/2010
|
|
Reporting Period:
|
January 27 - 28, 2010
|
|
1. Introduction
|
|
|
1.1 Background
|
|
|
|
|
Site Number: |
|
|
Contract Number: |
|
|
D.O. Number: |
|
|
Action Memo Date: |
|
|
Response Authority: |
OPA |
|
Response Type: |
Emergency |
|
Response Lead: |
PRP |
|
Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
|
NPL Status: |
|
|
Operable Unit: |
|
|
Mobilization Date: |
1/27/2010 |
|
Start Date: |
1/22/2010 |
|
Demob Date: |
|
|
Completion Date: |
|
|
CERCLIS ID: |
|
|
RCRIS ID: |
|
|
ERNS No.: |
|
|
State Notification: |
|
|
FPN#: |
E10903 |
|
Reimbursable Account #: |
|
1.1.1 Incident Category
The spill occurred in Huntington Beach, Orange County, California.
The Huntington Beach Channel Oil spill is a release of oil into a tributary to the navigable water of the United States. The source of the spill is clarifier overflow from an oil exploration and production facility. The spill is estimated to be atleast 700 gallons. Fingerprinting data from the California Department of Fish and Game (CADFG) indicates that the material is a crude oil similar to Monterey Formation Crude with an API of 14.
1.1.2 Site Description
The spill can from an 3 stage clarifier connected to an underground 24" storm drain lateral into an underground 96" diameter main storm drain trunk line. The trunk line is owned by the City of Huntington Beach. The 96" trunk line merges with the Huntington Beach Channel at the County of Orange Public Works Pump Station located an Adams Street, immediately east of Beach Blvd. in Huntington Beach.
Huntington Beach Channel, a sheet pile lined flood control channel. The channel approximately 2 miles long, 75 feet wide and 15' deep. The channel originates at the County of Orange Public Works Pump Station located an Adams Street, immediately east of Beach Blvd. in Huntington Beach. The Channel terminates in the Brookhurst and Talbert Marshs.
1.1.2.1 Location
Angus Petroleum is located at 1809 Delaware Street, Huntington Beach, Orange Co., CA. The facility is a one square block fenced facility located in a residential neighborhood.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The oil entered the underground flood control system which merged with the Huntington Beach Channel which terminates in the Brookhurst and Talbert Marshes. The Brookhurst and Talbert Marsh are contiguous, separated by Brookhurst Blvd. There is a channel between the two marshes that runs under a bridge on Brookhurst. ThBoth are saltwater marshes that are contiguous with the ocean through the Talbert Channel. Both the Huntington Beach Channel and the Marshes are tidally influenced.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
When the spill was discovered, on January 21-22, 2010, there was visible crude oil in the Huntington Beach Channel. Samples collected and submitted to the CADFG documented that the oil is a 14 API crude similar to crude from the Montery formation. There is oil contamination on the walls of the underground storm drain, the sheet piling on the Channel and possible in the Channel sediment. Most of the free oil has been collected from the Channel.
|
|
2. Current Activities
|
|
|
2.1 Operations Section
|
|
|
|
2.1.1 Narrative
The cleanup is being directed by a Unified Command consisting of the EPA OSC, the CADFG Office of Spill Response and Prevention Game Warden (State IC), OCPW and Huntington Beach Fire Department (HBFD). The cleanup is being conducted Orange County Public Works. (OCPW).
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
OCPW has retained Ocean Blue to conduct the cleanup. Ocean Blue has placed a series of sorbent and hard boom in the channel. The oil did not go past Newland Street and did not impact the marshes. Ocean Blue collected the free oil at the booms. The CADFG is conducting bird hazaing operations. CADFG is working the Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy to collect oiled wildlife. Their have been 27 dead birds of various species recovered.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The Potentially Responsible Party for this site Angus Petroleum. Angus Petroleum was discovered by following the oil trail in the storm drain to a lateral that lead to a clarifier in their facility. On January 29-30, 2010, EPA participated in a CADFG search warrant to identify to facility at the end of the lateral. On January 30, 2010, OSC Robert Wise issued a Clean Water Act Section 311(c) Order to Angus Petroleum.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
| Clarified Water |
Liquid |
40,000 gallons |
|
|
POTW |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.2 Planning Section
|
|
|
|
2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Cleanup activities will include removal of the clarfier and lateral into the 96" trunkline; decontamination of the underground storm drain and decontamination of the HBC. It is anticipated that wildlife recovery operations will continue throughout the removal.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
1. Under the CWA 311(c) Order, the PRP will decontaminate and remove or abandon in place the clarifier that overflowed. All plumbing from the clarifier to the Huntington Beach's storm drain system will removed. The PRP has until February 3, 2010 to provide a workplan for this activity.
2. Under the CWQ 3119c) Order, the PRP must determine how the spill occurred. Once the clarifier is clean, all connections into the clarifier will be identified and their path traced.
3. Ocean Blue shall decontaminate the underground system leading to the HBC.
4. Ocean Blue shall decontaminate the HBC.
5. The START contractor shall provide assistance to OCPW in the assessment of the sediment in the HBC to determine if there is oil contamination in the sediment. OSC Wise has initiated a START TDD and directed the START to prepare a SAP for this sampling event.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Ocean Blue will continue to pressure wash the underground system. It is anticipated that it will be completed by the end of the operational period on February 1, 2010 @1000 hours.
2.2.2 Issues
Although the source of the spill has been discovered, the cause is still under investigation by EPA, HBFD and CADFG.
|
|
|
2.3 Logistics Section
|
|
|
|
All spill cleanup logistical issues are being handled by the Ocean Blue.
Government Resources: 1 OSC, 2 PST, 2 START
|
|
|
2.4 Finance Section
|
|
|
|
No information available at this time.
|
|
|
2.5 Other Command Staff
|
|
|
|
2.5.1 Safety Officer
The site safety officer for the site is the PST. All Permit Required Confined Space Entry Permits are being reviewed by PST and the Confined Space Rescue Team with HBFD.
2.6 Liaison Officer
NA
2.7 Information Officer
2.7.1 Public Information Officer
The EPA PIO is not participating at this time. The OSC has requested PIO assistance in the preparation of a joint UC press release.
OSC Wise has given interviews to the OC Register, the LA Times and KCAL News.
PIOs from the City of Huntington Beach and CADFG have been assigned to the project.
2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
NA
|
|
3. Participating Entities
|
|
|
3.1 Unified Command
The Unified Command consists of EPA, CADFG, OCPW and HBFD.
Operations Section Chief is PST
Site Safety Officer is PST
Liason Officer is HBFD.
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Other agencies involved in the spill include: Department of Toxic Substance Control; Regional Water Quality Control Board; Department of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources; Huntington Beach Police Department, Huntington Beach Public Works, Orange County Sanitation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA and the Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy.
|
|
4. Personnel On Site
|
|
|
No information available at this time.
|
|
5. Definition of Terms
|
|
|
No information available at this time.
|
|
6. Additional sources of information
|
|
|
No information available at this time.
|
|
7. Situational Reference Materials
|
|
|
No information available at this time.
|
|
|
