U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Huntington Beach Channel Oil Spill - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IX
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Subject:
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POLREP #4
Completion of Huntington Beach Channel Decontamination and Quantification of Spill
Huntington Beach Channel Oil Spill
Huntington Beach, CA
Latitude: 33.8550499 Longitude: -118.3903683
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To:
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From:
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Robert Wise, OSC
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Date:
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2/23/2010
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Reporting Period:
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
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Contract Number: |
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D.O. Number: |
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Action Memo Date: |
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Response Authority: |
OPA |
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Response Type: |
Emergency |
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Response Lead: |
PRP |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
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NPL Status: |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
1/27/2010 |
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Start Date: |
1/22/2010 |
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Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
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FPN#: |
E10903 |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
See POLREP No. 1
1.1.2 Site Description
See POLREP No. 1
1.1.2.1 Location
See POLREP No. 1
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The oil on the channel walls has been removed. EPA will be evaluating channel sediment to determine if potential oil contamination poses a threat to the Water of the United States.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
See POLREP No. 1
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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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 (OSPR) 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
The decontamination of the corrugated sheet pile in the channel has been completed. Ocean Blue is in the process of decontaminating the equipment used in the cleanup.
On January 22, 2010, OSPR quantified the oil spill at a 6 barrels of free oil in the baker tanks used in the cleanup. The oil in the solids (boom, act...) is still being calculated, but is expected to be less then 1 barrel. The oil in the baker tanks will be picked up by Angus for recycling into their system.
OSC Wise and the START collected background samples for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons on February 22, 2010 from the Talbert Channel upstream of its confluence with the Huntington Beach Channel, the confluence of the two channels, the Talbert Marsh, the Brookhurst Marsh and the Magnolia Marsh. Three day turnaround has been requested. The background samples will be used to determine a cleanup action level.
The IAP terminates with the completion of the cleanup. Sediment sampling activities will be conducted by EPA without an IAP.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
See POLREP No. 1. EPA in cooperations with DFG (lead) is investigating the cause of the spill. EPA CID is participating in this investigation along with OSC Wise.
On February 22, 2010, OSC Wise issued a notice of Order violation letter to Angus due to the lack of progress in complying with the cleanup provisions in the Order. Angus contacted OSC Wise on January 23, 2010 and informed them, that they are in negotiations with their cleanup contractors.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
| Clarified Water |
Liquid |
40,000 gallons |
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POTW |
| Crude Oil |
Liquid |
6 barrels |
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Recycling at Angus |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Cleanup activies are four fold.
1. Decontamination of the channel - COMPLETED
2. Removal activities at the Angus facility. This is being overseen by EPA under a Clean Water Act 311(c) Order (CWA Order). These activities will include the removal of the clarifier, the lateral to the 24" storm drain lateral and soil characterization and removal of needed.
3. Assessment of sediment contamination in the channel. The EPA START Contractor is currently preparing a Sampling and Analytical Plan (SAP). The SAP will be reviewed by the Unified Command and cooperating agencies. The SAP will be executed by the EPA START Contractor, the USCG PST and cooperating agencies.
4. Removal of any contaminated sediment in the channel if needed. The removal of sediment will be conducted by either the EPA Emergency and Rapid Removal Services (ERRS) contractor or by Angus's contractor. If Angus is directed to conduct the sediment removal, the CWA Order will be amended to reflect this.
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 24, 2010 to start work or risk fines.
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. The EPA START contractor is currently preparing a SAP for the assessment of channel sediment. The action level for the sediment assessment shall be 1,000 ppm total petroleum hydrocarbons. The SAP will be reviewed by the Unified Command and any interested agencies. If the assessment documents the presence of oil above the action level, sediment removal planning will be initiated.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
OSC Wise is awaiting a SAP from the START for the sediment evaluation.
2.2.2 Issues
Although the source of the spill has been discovered, the cause is still under investigation by EPA and CADFG.
The spill cleanup must be completed before March 15, 2010 to allow for the Wetlands Conservancy to open the Magnolia Wetlands to the channel.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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All spill cleanup logistical issues are being handled by the Ocean Blue.
Government Resources: 1 OSC, 2 PST
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2.4 Finance Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.5 Other Command Staff
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2.5.1 Safety Officer
The site safety officer for the site is the PST.
2.6 Liaison Officer
NA
2.7 Information Officer
2.7.1 Public Information Officer
On February 11, 2010, OSC Wise gave an interview to the Orange County Register.
2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
The City of Huntington Beach is the lead agency on Community Involvement. OSC Wise will be working with the City to prepare a fact sheet on the cleanup operations at Angus for the the surrounding neighborhoods.
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3. Participating Entities
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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, the California Coastal Commission and the Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy.
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4. Personnel On Site
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No personnel will be on-site until sampling activities begin. PST has demobilized.
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5. Definition of Terms
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No information available at this time.
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6. Additional sources of information
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
The sampling of the channel is anticipated to occur during the week of March 3, 2010. The initial sampling will be for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH). The sediment action level at this time is 1,000 ppm TPH over background. OSC Wise has consulted with Dr. Ned Black, EPA, OCPW and RWQCB on this action level. OSC Wise is still awaiting recommendations from the natural resource trustees and the Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservency. Any samples over this action level will be sent in for PAH Fingerprint Analysis to determine if it is oil from the spill or miscellaneous petroleum hydrocarbons from urban runoff.
6.2 Reporting Schedule
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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