U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Tugboat Wm. McAllister - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region II
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Subject:
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POLREP #3
Tugboat Wm. McAllister
Port Douglass, NY
Latitude: 44.5038516 Longitude: -73.3543396
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To:
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Dennis Farrar, NYSDEC
Tim Grier, USEPA Headquarters 5202G
John Kushwara, USEPA Region 2 DECA-WCB
Beckett Grealish, USEPA Region 2, ERRD, RAB
Alex Sherrin, USEPA
Steve Lehmann, NOAA
Arthur Cohn, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
Rudy Brown, Public Affairs
Matt Moran, Vermont DEC
Tim Cropley, Vermont DEC
Richard Spiese, Vermont DEC
Mario Paula, USEPA
Adam Kane, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
Andrew English, NYSDEC
Wilson Ring, Associated Press International
Erik Beck, USEPA
David Sherry, Sector Northern New England
James Warren, NYS Historic Preservation Office
David Sherry, USCG
John Senn, USEPA
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From:
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Paul L. Kahn, OSC; Neil Norrell, OSC
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Date:
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3/26/2010
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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: |
Pre-Deployment |
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Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Assessment |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
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Start Date: |
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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#: |
E10203 |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
The tugboat Wm. McAllister sank in Lake Champlain in November,1963 after striking Schuyler Reef on the New York State side of the lake near the town of Westport. The vessel had a maximum fuel capacity of 14,000 gallons of Diesel. The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum (LCMM) in Vergennes, VT has referred this potential source of water pollution to Region II EPA.
1.1.2 Site Description
The Wm. H. McAllister is a steel-hulled Diesel tugboat built by the now defunct Levingston Shipbuilding Company of Orange Texas during World War II. the keel was laid down on February 12, 1942 and launched September 18, 1943. Her papers describe her as an oil screw vessel having one deck, two masts, a raked stem and elliptical stern. Her registered dimensions were 85 ft. length, 23 ft. beam, and 3 m (9.6 ft.) depth. Draft was 11 ft. loaded and 10 ft. in ballast. Registered tonnage was 140 gross and 95 net.
The tug was in U.S. Army service as ST-243 and was acquired by McAllister Brothers, Inc., of New York in 1949 when it was renamed the Wm. H. McAllister. The tug sank on November 17, 1963, after striking Schuyler Reef on the NY side of the lake while pushing an empty gasoline barge. All hands escaped to the barge when the tug sank. The owners of the vessel originally planned to recover the hull which was valued at $250,000 (Burlington Free Press November 20, 1963).
Because of its interesting history the tug was the subject of ROV documentation by the LCMM in 1997. The vessel is in very good condition and red and white paint is still clearly visible on the hull. The tug has settled heavily into the bottom of the lake and mud covers a good portion of the rudder. Only the top of the uppermost propeller blade protrudes from the sediment. The vessel’s name is clearly painted on the stern, the bow, and the front of the pilot house.
The tug had a 720 BHP four-cylinder Diesel engine built by Levingtson Shipbuilding of Orange Texas. Cruising speed was 10 knots and full speed was 12 knots. Cruising range was 2415 km (1500 nautical miles). Fuel capacity was 14,000 gallons with a daily fuel consumption of 840 gallons at cruising speed. It is not known how much Diesel was on the vessel when it sank, nor is there any information as to how much may remain on-board.
1.1.2.1 Location
The wreck is located a few hundred yards off the shore near Westport, NY at the base of Schuyler Reef, in approximately 150 feet of water.
Shortly after the tug sank involved parties executed several diver examinations of the deep site. At least two preliminary discussions considered the feasibility of raising the vessel, although these deliberations did not lead to any actual physical attempt to raise the tug. The vessel Doris C was chartered to locate the wreck but it is unclear whether they were unable to find the wreck or believed it to be too deep to recover. The LCMM first located the wreck in 1988, relocated it during the 1997 Lake Survey, and examined it with ROV later that summer.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The LCMM, which has a role similar to that of a "Riverkeeper", routinely monitors the lake for various concerns, including water pollution. The LCMM reports that an oil sheen is often seen on the surface of the lake over the location of the wreck, indicating that Diesel fuel may be escaping. Given that the tug is 65 years old and has been submerged for 46 years, it is likely that the fuel tanks are corroded to the point where a catastrophic release of the fuel, if any remains on board, may be imminent. Should that happen, a major spill of oil into a navigable waterway of the United States would occur.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Assessment(s) of the tug will be made as the need is determined.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
EPA Region II has opened an OPA Spill Account with the Coast Guard's National Pollution Fund Center for an initial amount of $6,000. OSC Kahn met with LCMM personnel on March 4, 2010 to view the underwater video of the wreck and discuss the overall scope of the project. The U.S. Navy Superintendent of Salvage (NAVSUPSALV) has been sent a copy of the 1997 ROV video and some documentation on the vessel. SUPSALV has agreed to review the LCMM documentation and advise EPA as to whether the wreck can be safely accessed and if the fuel oil can be removed.
SUPSALV located the original design plans and specs for the tug, a model 327A, and forwarded them to EPA. This vital historical information shows the exact location of the wing fuel tanks (similar to saddle tanks) two forward and two aft inside the hull. There is also a 120 gallon lube oil tank in the engine room. Copies of these plans and specs were sent to the LCMM, Region I Lake Champlain Basin POC, and J. Vetter, the EPA Archeologist. Electronic copies of the plans and specs have been posted on this web site in the Documents Section.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
EPA has forwarded information about the vessel to the NPFC which will be compared to a Vessel Documentation data base. This may reveal who the owner-of-record is for cost-recovery purposes. Any decision to initiate a cost recovery action is solely within the purview of the NPFC.
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Medium |
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Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
The video documentation has been sent to NAVSUPSALV for evaluation and a feasibility assessment. The LCMM would like to make a video documentary of the oil removal project that can be used for historical and/or educational purposes. In addition, because the wreck is an historic object, EPA Archaeologist John Vetter will work closely with the OSC and the LCMM to ensure that the provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act are complied with during the entire project, including the documentation of preservation activities. The original engineering drawings sent to EPA will be a valuable historical reference as well as visual aid.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Any response activities will be dependent on the feasibility of accessing the wreck and removing any fuel on-board.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
The SUPSALV POC is on-assignment in the western Pacific, but will contact the OSC upon his return. At that time the possibility of using a Navy hard-hat diver to "sound" the tanks will be discussed.
2.2.2 Issues
None, yet.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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n/a
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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
At the appropriate time a Safety Officer will be designated and a Health and Safety Plan will be written.
2.6 Liaison Officer
At the present time the OSC and Director of the LCMM will be handling all liaison matters.
2.7 Information Officer
n/a
2.7.1 Public Information Officer
Kristen Skopeck, with the EPA Field Office in Ft. Edward, NY has been assigned to the project as the POI.
2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
n/a
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
n/a
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum is an Assisting Agency, as it the Navy's Superintendent of Salvage. Other cooperating agencies will be determined at the appropriate time. Although not inclusive, agencies that could be involved in this project are: USEPA Region I (Boston), various departments within the States of New York and Vermont, US Coast Guard-Station Burlington (VT), US Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team based at Ft. Dix (NJ), and the US Department of the Interior.
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4. Personnel On Site
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To be determined.
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5. Definition of Terms
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n/a
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6. Additional sources of information
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
See the web site operated by the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum; McAllister Towing Inc.; and the Tugboat Enthusiasts of the Americas.
6.2 Reporting Schedule
n/a
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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See Additional Sources of Information.
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