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Alcoa Oil Spill

All POL/SITREP's for this site Alcoa Oil Spill
Lafayette, IN - EPA Region V
POLREP #6
Final PolRep 		Printer Friendly  |   PDF
 
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Alcoa Oil Spill - Removal Polrep
Final Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V
Subject: POLREP #6
Final PolRep
Alcoa Oil Spill

Lafayette, IN
Latitude: 40.4033776 Longitude: -86.8613812

To:
From: Shelly Lam, On-Scene Coordinator
Date: 7/5/2011
Reporting Period: March 29 - July 1, 2011

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: Z5K9    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: 1/14/2011    Start Date: 1/14/2011
Demob Date: 4/1/2011    Completion Date: 7/1/2011
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#: E11507    Reimbursable Account #:


1.1.1 Incident Category
Active production facility - oil spill

1.1.2 Site Description

1.1.2.1 Location
Alcoa is a producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum, and alumina, located at 3131 Main Street in Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana.  Site coordinates are 40.4033776 north latitude and 86.8613812 west longitude.  The Site is a 172-acre facility located in an industrial and commercial area in Lafayette.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
On January 14, 2011, Alcoa reported to the National Response Center (NRC # 964751) a discharge of approximately 1,600 gallons of oily press water from their facility in Lafayette, Indiana.  The discharge was due to a pipe failure and hose malfunction.  Oil/water mixture discharged to the storm sewer and then flowed for approximately one mile to an outfall on Elliott Ditch.  Elliott Ditch is a perennial stream that discharges into Wea Creek before flowing to the Wabash River. 

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) Shelly Lam and Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) OSC Greg Carter responded to the spill on January 14th. Both OSCs observed oil flowing from the outfall into Elliott Ditch.  Oil flowed approximately one mile downstream to the 18th Street Bridge, where it was contained and recovered.

Twenty-two residences on private drinking water wells were identified within 200 feet of the impacted section of the ditch.  The residents were notified of the spill and were provided temporary drinking water by Alcoa.  Samples were collected from 21 residential wells. 

Prior ecological assessments conducted by the EPA identified six endangered species in Elliott Ditch and Wea Creek.  These species include the fanshell, ring pink, rough pigtoe, pyramid pigtoe, rabbitsfoot, and bluebreast darter.  EPA notified the State Trustee and Department of the Interior.

Alcoa entered into a Consent Decree in 2002 with the EPA regarding historical releases of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB).  The consent decree required investigations of Elliott Ditch and Wea Creek.  PCBs were detected in surface water, sediment, and fish tissue samples.  The presence of elevated levels of PCBs in fish tissues prompted a Fish Advisory for these waterways. 



2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative
The Alcoa facility reported a spill of approximately 1,600 gallons of oily press water on January 14, 2011.  The discharge was due to a pipe failure and hose malfunction.  Oil/water mixture discharged to the storm sewer and then flowed for approximately one mile to an outfall on Elliott Ditch.  Elliott Ditch is a perennial stream that discharges into Wea Creek before flowing to the Wabash River.  EPA and IDEM observed oil flowing from the outfall into Elliott Ditch.  The oil was emulsified and appeared milky white in color.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
Alcoa and their consultant, Anchor QEA, collected surface water and sediment samples from Elliott Ditch from March 29 - April 1, 2011.  EPA's Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contractor conducted oversight of sampling.  The purpose of the sampling event was to determine if there was any residual contamination from the oil spill that had impacted Elliott Ditch and whether such contamination was a threat to human health and the environment.  EPA and Alcoa had a conference call on July 1, 2011 to discuss the results of the sampling event.

Anchor QEA collected a total of 78 sediment samples (plus 4 blind samples) and a total of 21 surface water samples (plus 2 blind samples) at six sampling stations along Elliott Ditch.  One station (Station 02) was upstream of the outfall while the remaining stations were downstream of the outfall.  

The sediment and surface water samples were analyzed for PCBs (congeners), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), Semi-volatile Organic Compounds (SVOC), and Oil & Grease. In addition, the surface water samples were analyzed for total suspended solids (TSS).  A summary of analytical results is provided below.

Sediment Results

Sediment results were compared to EPA's Regional Screening Levels (RSL) for protection of groundwater as there are a number of residents along the creek who use groundwater as a drinking water source.

  • Total PCB congener concentrations ranged from 0.0519 to 16.1 mg/kg, and exceeded RSLs from stations 04, 05, 06, 07, and 09. 
  • VOC analytical results were either non-detect or below the RSL.
  • Benzo(a)anthracene concentrations exceeded the RSL in samples from all the stations. Concentrations ranged from 212 to 3,800 micrograms per kilogram (μg/kg).
  • Benzo(a)pyrene concentrations exceeded the RSL in samples from all the stations.  Concentrations ranged from 246 to 3,630 μg/kg.
  • Benzo(b)fluoranthene concentrations exceeded the RSL in samples from all the stations.  Concentrations ranged from 204 to 5,130 μg/kg.
  • Benzo(k)fluoranthene concentrations exceeded the RSL in samples from stations 02, 05, and 09. Concentrations ranged from 369 to 2,800 μg/kg.
  • Dibenz(a,h)anthracene concentrations exceeded the RSL in three samples from stations 05 and 09. Concentrations ranged from 301 to 579 μg/kg.
  • The bis(2-chloroethyl)ether concentration exceeded the RSL of 210 μg/kg in one sample from station 02. The concentration was 1,340 μg/kg.
  • Oil & Grease concentrations ranged from 87.1 to 6,650 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), and was detected in samples collected from all stations.

Based on these results, there appear to be background concentrations of PCBs and SVOCs above RSLs in the sediment in Elliott Ditch based on the results from the upstream sample location (Station 02).  However, PCB and Oil & Grease concentrations appeared to increase downstream above background concentrations at Stations 7 and 4, respectively.

Surface Water Results

Surface water results were compared to Indiana Water Quality Standards (WQS).  

  • Total PCB congener concentrations exceeded the WQS of 0.79 nanograms per liter (ng/L) in samples from all the stations.  Concentrations ranged from 13.356 to 30.019 ng/L.
  • All VOC analytical results were non-detect.
  • All SVOC analytical results were non-detect.
  • Oil & Grease results ranged from 0.967 bto 2.26 milligrams per liter (mg/L).
  • TSS results ranged from non-detect to 10.8 mg/L.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
On January 14, 2011, OSC Lam issued a Notice of Federal Interest to Alcoa representatives.  Alcoa agreed to take voluntary action to contain the spill and conduct cleanup.  Alcoa had previously entered into a Consent Decree in 2002 with EPA to conduct investigations along Elliott Ditch and Wea Creek related to historical PCB releases.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
Oil/water mixture  Liquid 174,500 gallons Not applicable (NA) Returned to on-site treatment system NA
           
           



  2.2 Planning Section
   
2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Per an agreement between EPA and IDEM, EPA will refer the Site to IDEM's Site Investigations Section, and they will determine if further action is necessary regarding the oil spill.  Alcoa will continue to work with EPA's Office of Water to address PCB contamination under their Consent Decree.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Residential well sampling oversight has been referred to IDEM's Office of Water Quality, Drinking Water Branch. 

2.2.2 Issues
None

  2.3 Logistics Section
    NA

  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer
Anchor QEA conducted operations in accordance with their site-specific Health and Safety Plan (HASP).

2.6 Liaison Officer
NA

2.7 Information Officer


2.7.1 Public Information Officer
NA

2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
NA

3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command
NA

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Department of Interior
IDEM
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Tippecanoe County Emergency Management Agency
Tippecanoe County Health Department
U.S. Fish & Wildlife

4. Personnel On Site
  1 START contractor
Anchor QEA personnel

5. Definition of Terms
 

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency

HASP

Health & Safety Plan

IDEM

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

mg/kg

milligrams per kilogram

NA

Not applicable

ng/L

nanograms per liter

NRC

National Response Center

OSC

On-Scene Coordinator

PCB

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

PRP

Potentially Responsible Party

RSL

Regional Screening Level

START

Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team

SVOC

Semivolatile Organic Compounds

TSS

Total Suspended Solids

ug/kg

micrograms per kilogram

ug/L

micrograms per liter

VOC

Volatile Organic Compounds

WQS

Water Quality Standard


6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
For additional information, refer to www.epaosc.org/alcoaoilspill.

6.2 Reporting Schedule
No additional PolReps will be submitted.

7. Situational Reference Materials
  NA


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