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 #5
EPA Take Over of Work at Angus Facility
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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3/8/2010
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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: |
Z9CU |
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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: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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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
See previous POLREPS.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
See POLREP No. 1
Starting on March 1, 2010, the START conducted an evaluation of the sediment for oil contamination, results are pending.
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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
During the week of March 1, 2010, the START in cooperation with OCPW and the PST conducted sampling of the HBC for petroleum hydrocarbons in the sediment.
On March 3, 2010, after numerous conversations with Angus and their designated contractor failed to yield a viable contract between them, EPA notified Angus that it was taking over the cleanup at the Angus Facility. On March 4, 2010, a conference call was held with the City of Huntington Beach, Angus and OSC Wise to discuss the dispostion of the piping leading to the underground storm drain system. It was decided that the piping would be left in place and a gate valve placed on the lateral to prevent unauthorized discharges. On March 5, 2010, OSC Wise, ERRS and the CADFG investigators conducted a job walk of the Angus site. At that time it was determined that Angus had conducted an unauthorized excavation around the clarifier. This excavation uncovered the lateral and much to everyone's surprise, it was atleast 18" in diameter versus the 8" listed on the maps. OSC Wise directed Angus to cease any additional excavation activities until March 8, 2010.
2.1.3 Enforcement/Potentially Responsible Parties
On March 3, 2010, OSC Wise sent a letter to the representative of Angus informing them that due to their inability to retain a cleanup contractor in a reasonable amount of time, EPA would be taking over the work on the facility. EPA will utilize their ERRS contractor to conduct the work including decontamination of the clarifier, identification of the influent and effluent pipes and closing of the clarifier. Angus will provide technical assistance to ERRS in the form of excavation and facility layout. If it is decided to still install the gate valve, that work will be down by Angus employees under EPA and City supervision.
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 will be conducted by EPA with technical assistance from Angus.
3. Assessment of sediment contamination in the channel. Sampling has been completed. The analytical data is due in mid-March.
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
See above
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Starting on March 8, 2010, EPA will begin removal activities at the Angus Facility. After Angus has excavated around the manways on the clarifier, ERRS will remove them and decontaminate the clarifier. After the clarifier has been decontaminated, the source of all influent pipes into the clarifier will be identified and their routes and starting points will be determined. Once this is completed the clarifier will be closed by pumping it full of slurry.
2.2.2 Issues
Although the source of the spill has been discovered, the cause is still under investigation by EPA and CADFG.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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NA
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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 for the facility removal operations will consist of EPA, HBPW and 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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NA
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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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