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Kalamazoo River/Enbridge Spill

All POL/SITREP's for this site Kalamazoo River/Enbridge Spill
Marshall, MI - EPA Region V
POLREP #6
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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Kalamazoo River/Enbridge Spill - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V

Subject: POLREP #6
Kalamazoo River/Enbridge Spill
Z5JS
Marshall, MI
Latitude: 42.2395273 Longitude: -84.9662018


To:
From: Ralph Dollhopf, On-Scene Coordinator
Stephen Wolfe, On-Scene Coordinator
Jeffrey Kimble, On-Scene Coordinator
Date: 7/31/2010
Reporting Period: 7/30/2010 1900 to 7/31/2010 1900

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: Z5JS    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: OPA    Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead: PRP    Incident Category: Removal Assessment
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 7/26/2010    Start Date: 7/26/2010
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#: E10527    Reimbursable Account #:


1.1.1 Incident Category

Emergency Response -- Pipeline Rupture

1.1.2 Site Description

A 30 inch pipeline ruptured releasing its contents (NRC report of 19,500 barrels) into a culvert leading to Talmadge Creek. Talmadge Creek leads to the Kalamazoo River. The site is along the River running from Marshall, Michigan to Battle Creek, Michigan. The River is bordered by marshland, residential properties, farm land, and commercial properties for the approximate 30 mile stretch of the affected river.
 
1.1.2.1 Location

Spill location origin is in Marshall, Michigan on Talmadge Creek and extends 30 miles down the Kalamazoo River.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Western Canadian crude oil was released from the pipeline and has entered a navigable waterway.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

Approximately 30 miles of the Kalamazoo River have been impacted. The Kalamazoo River level is higher than normal because of recent heavy rain in the area impacting boom deployment and site monitoring activities. The River levels are continuing to fall.  Talmadge Creek has been boomed at the confluence to the Kalamazoo River and seem to be containing the oil still behind them. Boom has been placed in twenty two locations along the Kalamazoo River. Precautionary boom has also been deployed in Morrow Lake.

2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

Approximately 67,000 feet of boom and skimming equipment have been deployed at thirty two locations along Talmadge Creek and the Kalamazoo River. Recovered material is being temporarily stored in frac tanks on site.  Tanker trucks are transporting the material to a facility owned by the RP with available storage in Griffith IN.  To date, approximately 10,800 barrels of oil/water have been recovered and have been transported to an Enbridge facility in Griffith, IN. Approximately 33,000 barrels have been collected and are being stored in frac tanks for future transport. No sheen has been observed on Morrow Lake to date.

START, the 51st CST and Enbridge contractor CTEH are monitoring and sampling air quality along the river and throughout residential areas.   Monitoring equipment includes UltraRAE, PPB RAE, Multi RAE, Draeger CMS Chip Reader, AreaRAE and Hapsite portable GC/MS.  

Samples were collected for analysis from surface water, water column and private drinking wells along the length of the impacted areas of the Kalamazoo River and areas downstream of the Morrow Lake Dam.  In addition, sediment samples were taken from Morrow Lake.

US Fish and Wildlife Service is working with the wildlife team to address wildlife impacts. A rehabilitation center for oiled wildlife has been established. A total of 47 geese, 4 ducks, 6 muskrats, 27 turtles, 2 swans, and 2 domestic geese have been recovered.


The USCG Atlantic Strike Team is on scene to provide assistance with RP and contractor oversight. Eight additional District 9 USCG staff are integrated into the response.

NTSB and USDOT-PHMSA are on site conducting an investigation of the pipeline incident and are working with the appropriate State, Local, and Federal agencies. Enbridge has been given permission from NTSB to excavate the pipeline break.  Due to high water tables and wet conditions excavation collapses have hindered progress.

The voluntary evacuation issued by Calhoun County Health Department in consultation with Michigan Department of Community Health and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry remains effect for several residences located immediately downstream of the spill site along the Talmadge Creek up to the confluence with the Kalamazoo River.  This voluntary evacuation was based on review of air monitoring results for benzene around oil collection areas. Sixty one residences were given notices.  Twelve residences evacuated, twenty seven chose to stay and twenty two did not answer. 


2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

Enbridge is the RP.

On July 27, 2010, USEPA issued an Administrative Order under section 311(c) of the Clean Water Act to Enbridge.  Enbridge is actively addressing all the deliverables of the Order including but not limited to; drafting an overall site work plan; health and safety plan; and sampling and analysis plan.



  2.2 Planning Section
   

EPA conducted air monitoring near the hot zone at a morning Division A meeting.  The levels of benzene measured using an UltraRAE outside the hot zone were up to 1.5 ppm and up to 18 ppm within the hot zone.  Based on these findings, a meeting with OSHA, Coast Guard health and safety officials, ATSDR, EPA Safety Officer, and Enbridge field safety contact was conducted to express concerns about worker exposures and the decision criteria used to define the hot zone.  As a followup, EPA OSCs, ATSDR staff , 2 OSHA inspectors went to the release point in Division A to conduct additional air monitoring activities. Measurements were collected for benzene, using UltraRAEs, and total VOCs, using ppb RAE 3000. The readings were much lower than detected in the morning when aggressive excavation activities were conducted.  A meeting with Enbridge health and safety officer and lead IH, Coast Guard representatives, OSHA, Michigan OSHA, ATSDR, and EPA Safety Officer to discuss general health and safety issues, and plan for a

unified Health and Safety plan for the response.

EPA and Public Health agencies reviewed comments and the decision tree for air monitoring and response plan.


2.2.2 Issues

The Kalamazoo River level is higher than normal because of recent heavy rain in the area impacting boom deployment and site monitoring activities. The water levels are falling.

The RP has been informed that a Superfund site (PCB cleanup) is occurring on the Kalamazoo River Downstream of Morrow Lake (approximately 35 river miles downstream).  The RP has been advised to make all efforts necessary to ensure the oil does not reach the Superfund Site. The City of Plainwell, Michigan has proposed a strategy involving boom diversion and oil collection as a contingency in the event oil impacts the Superfund Site.



  2.3 Logistics Section
    We are supporting twenty four hour operations.

 

IT work continued at the High School to set up the media center, should be completed today.

 

We found a need to put a firewall between school internet uplink and our system due to an unsuccessful hack attempt.  Actions were taken to resolve this issue.

 

A request for 6 long distance radios was received yesterday and filled by the State of Michigan Emergency Management Division, as a loan, from their radio cache. Ten Radios arrived today and are ready for deployment.

 

Below is the response equipment deployed.

EPA personnel and contractors are totals Enbridge numbers are for resources on the River only      
Enbridge 35
 Enbridge Contractors 366
EPA  32
 EPA Contractors 83
Night crew total 182
 Grand Total Workers on River 647
     
Major Resources Vacuum Trucks 71
Skimmers 39
Tanker Trucks 17
Air Compressors 25
Light Plants 53
Trailers 25
Trash Pumps 6
Frac Tanks 77
Boats 39
     
  Control point count 28
Length of Boom Deployed in River Containment Boom (ft) 29,575
Absorbent (ft) 21,515
Total boom deployed 51,090
Length of Boom Available by River Containment Boom (ft) 6,000
Absorbent (ft)  
Length of Boom Available in Yard Containment Boom (ft) 2,520
Absorbent (ft)  
     
Total Recovery (oil & water)   Marshall (bbls)  29,029
   


  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.

  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer

US EPA, US EPA START contractors, US OSHA, and ATSDR representatives Investigated a report of high benzene concentrations at Division A. They found that Enbridge’s existing controls were adequate to address OSHA guidelines for personal protective equipment. The Safety Officer investigated a case of a contractor employee smoking near one of the boom sites. He also reviewed Enbridge’s HASP and began the process of integrating site HASPs.



2.6 Liaison Officer
The Liaison Officer was dispatched to work in the State Emergency Operations Center in Lansing.

2.7 Information Officer
2.7.1 Public Information Officer

A JIC was established with state and federal PIOs at the Command Post.
A toll free telephone number for media inquiries was established.
A press briefing was held at 3 p.m. EDT
Fact sheets were drafted for the public meeting.
Continued to answer media inquiries, although volume of calls had diminished.

 

Community Involvement Coordinator

A community meeting and has been planned for Monday, August 2, at 7 pm.



3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command
Enbridge (Responsible Party)
US EPA
Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment
Michigan State Police Emergency Management Division
Calhoun County Public Health Department
Calhoun County Sheriff
Kalamazoo County Sheriff



3.2 Cooperating Agencies

Cooperating Agencies


Allegan County Emergency Managment
American Red Cross

Augusta Police Department

B&B Fire Safety Emergency Response

Calhoun Conservation District

Calhoun County Commissioners

Calhoun County Drain Commission

Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office

Calhoun County Treasurers Office

Calhoun Conservation District

Calhoun Greenation District

City of Battle Creek, Michigan

City of Marshall, Michigan

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Fredonia Township Fire Department

Huron Potawatomi

Kalamazoo County Office of Emergency Management

Kalamazoo Public Safety

Kalamazoo Watershed Council

Marshall Township Government and Fire Department

Marshall Police Department

Natural Resource Group

National Transportation Safety Board

Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA

U.S. Department of Transportation

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA

 

Congressional Presence

 

State Representative Jase Bolger

State Representative Kate Segal
State
Representative Ken Kurtz

State Representative Phil Browne

State Representative Phyllis Browne

State Representative Bob Geuctk

State Representative Tanya Schuitmaker

State Senator Mike Nofs

U.S. Congressman Mark Schauer

U.S. Senator Carl Levin

U.S. Senator Stabenow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



4. Personnel On Site
 
Enbridge 36
Enbridge Contractors 354
EPA  34
ERRS 85
START 28
Night crew total 247
 Grand Total Workers on River 784
  


5. Definition of Terms
 
NRC  National Response Center
USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency
ERRS Emergency and Rapid Response Contractor
RP Responsible Party
IN Indiana
START Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team
CST Civil Support Team
CTEH Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health
GC/MS Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectroscopy
USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service
USCG United States Coast Guard
NTSB National Transportation Safety Board
USDOT United States Department of Transportation
PHMSA Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration
ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
CWA Clean Water Act
OSC On-scene Coordinator
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration
VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds
FOB Field Observers
PCB Polychlorinated Biphenyls
GIS Geographical Information System
FPN Federal Project Number
OSLTP Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund
HASP Health and Safety Plan
LNO Liaison Officer
JIC Joint Information Center
PIO Public Information Officer
CIC Community Involvement Coordinator
MDNRE Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment
MSPEMD Michigan State Police Emergency Management Division
CCPH Calhoun County Public Health
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
DOC Department of Commerce
MI Michigan


6. Additional sources of information
  No information available at this time.

7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.