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Chocolate Bayou Oil Spill

All POL/SITREP's for this site Chocolate Bayou Oil Spill
Port Lavaca, TX - EPA Region VI
POLREP #2
Final 		Printer Friendly  |   PDF
 
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Chocolate Bayou Oil Spill - Removal Polrep
Final Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VI
Subject: POLREP #2
Final
Chocolate Bayou Oil Spill
V6LM
Port Lavaca, TX
Latitude: 28.5769805 Longitude: -96.7021367

To:
From: Adam Adams, OSC
Date: 5/26/2010
Reporting Period: 5/19/2010-5/25/210

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: V6LM    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: OPA    Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead: PRP    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 5/17/2010    Start Date: 5/17/2010
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#: E10629    Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

    Incident is an emergency response action for an oil spill impacting a Chocolate Bayou with a potential for impact to the downgradient Lavaca Bay.  Incident is an RP lead removal. 

1.1.2 Site Description
              

    The EPA dispatched START contractors to an oil spill near Port Lavaca, Texas on May 17, 2010.  Formation Resources LLC is the Responsible Party (RP).  On May 17, 2010 at approximately 0845, 280 barrels of oil from a storage tank was discovered spilled due to equipment failure at the tank battery.  The size of the reported spill has been adjusted by the RP.  The oil impacted a drainage ditch, which flows to Aqua Dulce Creek, which flows to Chocolate Bayou which flows into Lavaca Bay.  Chocolate Bayou was impacted, but the spill does not appear to have reached Lavaca Bay.  The NRC was notified on May 17, 2010 (NRC # 940488) and on May 18, 2010 (NRC # 940948).  The RP cleanup contractors PMI and Jones and Allen arrived onsite on May 17, 2010 at approximately 1245.  Agencies represented onsite include TGLO, TCEQ, RRC, USCG, and USEPA.  On May 19, 2010, TGLO determined the immediate threat to coastal waters was mitigated and turned the jurisdiction of the spill over to the RRC.  On May 25, 2010, the RP reported that 220 barrels of crude oil had been recovered. 

 1.1.2.1 Location
         
    The tank battery and source of the oil spill is located at 28 degrees 35' 25.00" North and 96 degrees 43' 51.70" West just west of Port Lavaca, Texas.  The downgradient most recovery point is located at 28 degrees 34' 39.35" North and 96 degrees 42' 8.80" West.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
 
    Incident threat is a 280 barrel Crude Oil Impact to Aqua Dulce Creek, and Chocolate Bayou with a potential impact to the Lavaca Bay.
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
   

2.1.1 Narrative

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

   On May 25, 2010, an EPA START-3 contractor conducted a site follow-up visit to observe the continued cleanup efforts being conducted by the RP.  On May 25, 2010 the START-3 contractor observed oil sorbent boom and flat oil sorbent material stretched across the creek at the area where the ditch flows into Aqua Dulce Creek, the Sweetwater Road Crossing and the Matson Road crossing, which were the previously established boom locations.  START-3 observed small amounts of emulsified oil that was still present in the creek at these locations.  START-3 also observed hard boom at the Matson Road Crossing downstream of the sorbent boom locations.  While START-3 was onsite, RP contractors were in the process of removing the hard boom that was in place where the drainage ditch flowed into Aqua Dulce Creek.  START-3 also observed the secondary containment for the tank batter had been drained of standing water, but was oil stained in areas.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
   
    Formation Resources LLC is the RP for the Crude Oil impact to the ditch, creek, and Chocolate Bayou.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

    All recovered materials are being managed by the RP and most of the recovered liquids are returned to the tank battery for processing.
  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

  The RP will continue to conduct cleanup activities until the spill has been remediated under the supervision of the RRC.  This includes visually inspecting the sorbent boom and other sorbent material daily, and collecting the pooled oil every other day at present.  Maintenance to any of the sorbent materials will be conducted as necessary  The frequency of the collection of the oil will continue to be adjusted as the site conditions warrant.

 

  2.3 Logistics Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer


2.6 Liaison Officer


2.7 Information Officer
    Details and further information about the incident and response efforts can be found at www.epaosc.org/ChocolateBayou.

3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command


3.2 Cooperating Agencies
    Agencies on-site include USEPA, USCG, TGLO, TCEQ, and the RRC.

4. Personnel On Site
      Beyond the cooperating agencies, additional personnel on-site include the contractors operating for the RP.

5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.
6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
    Details and further information about the incident and response efforts can be found at www.epaosc.org/ChocolateBayou.

6.2 Reporting Schedule
7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.