Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Exxon Mobile Pipeline Release
Tolbert, LA - EPA Region VI
POLREP #1
Initial

Printer Friendly | PDF

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Exxon Mobile Pipeline Release - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VI

Subject:

POLREP #1
Initial
Exxon Mobile Pipeline Release

Tolbert, LA
Latitude: 31.1442440 Longitude: -92.8080486

To:

From:

Mark Hayes, OSC

Date:

5/1/2012

Reporting Period:

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:		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:	4/29/2012	Start Date:	4/29/2012
Demob Date:		Completion Date:
CERCLIS ID:		RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:
FPN#:	E12620	Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

Removal Action

1.1.2 Site Description

The oil spill occurred in a rural area west of Torbert, Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana. The pipeline is in an upland wooded area. Oil flowed to a unnamed ditch which ran along the edge of some fields. The ditch discharges into Bayou Cholpe. Oil is present for approximately 0.5 miles in the unnamed ditch and 0.8 miles of Bayou Cholpe.

1.1.2.1 Location

West of Torbert, Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

On 29 April 2012 Exxon personnel discovered that approximately 1891 barrels of crude oil discharged from a 22 inch underground pipeline that is owned and operated by ExxonMobile Pipeline Company. The spill subsequently impacted a small unnamed tributary (ditch) and Bayou Cholpe.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

ExxonMobil Pipeline Company is the responsible party who will lead the removal action with EPA providing coordination and oversight of their cleanup activities.

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

On 29 April 2012 ExxonMobil Pipeline's contractor ES&H was deployed to initiate cleanup activities. ES&H deployed boom across Cholpe Bayou at several different locations and was able to contain the spill approximately 1.3 drainage miles downstream of the source location. ExxonMobil Pipeline personnel spent much of the day trying to determine the location where the leak occurred. Two planes were flying the pipeline from Shreveport to St James Parish (halfway between Baton Rouge and New Orleans), Louisiana, while crews on the ground investigated the same stretch of pipeline. The source where the discharge occurred was eventually located and the valves were shut off at ExxonMobil's facilities located in Port Allen and Melville, Louisiana. ES&H continued cleanup activities overnight using vac trucks and drum skimmers.

On 30 April 2012 ES&H cleanup activities continued. At 1600 hours ExxonMobil reported that an estimated total of 600 barrels (bbls) of oil and water was recovered and transported to the ExxonMobil Anchorage tank farm facility located in Port Allen, Louisiana for reprocessing. ExxonMobil crews excavated around the section of pipeline where the spill occurred and investigated for repairs. Exxon and ES&H divided the site into 3 zones: zone A includes all affected areas from the spill site to the terminus of the smaller drainage ditch into Cholpe Bayou; zone B includes all affected areas of Cholpe Bayou to the railroad bridge just south of Hwy 190; zone C includes all affected areas from the railroad bridge to the spill terminus approximately 0.5 drainage miles south of the bridge. ExxonMobil heath and safety personnel established exclusion zones at the Hwy 190 collection point in zone B and at the oil spill source location in zone A due to elevated Benzene levels. ExxonMobil recorded benzene levels above 1.0 parts per million (ppm) and established an action level of 0.5 ppm. The levels of benzene observed at the Hwy 190 collection area eventually decreased during the work day, however, air monitoring was continued. ES&H continued to work 24 hour operations performing cleanup activities.

On 1 May 2012 ES&H cleanup activities continued. ExxonMobil reported that an estimated total of 1300 bbls of oil and water was recovered and removed offsite. All recovered product will be taken to the Anchorage tank farm located in Port Allen, LA for reprocessing. ExxonMobile reported that approximately 56 cubic yards of contaminated soil and vegetation was removed and placed in roll off boxes for disposal. Clean Harbors will handle the transportation and disposal of all oil contaminated material. ExxonMobile installed triton liquid ring pump-based vacuum systems to increase the amount of recovered product. ExxonMobil has continued air monitoring for Benzene at several different locations including at the source. The highest reported reading was 0.25 ppm, at the source location. EPA also conducted air monitoring for Benzene with the highest reading observed at 0.12 ppm near the source location.

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

ExxonMobil Pipeline Company has been identified as the responsible party

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

*Waste Stream*	*Medium*	*Quantity*	*Manifest #*	*Treatment*	*Disposal*

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

ExxonMobil, along with their response contractor ES&H, will continue 24 hour cleanup activities.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

ExxonMobil plans to install an overflow dam downstream of zone C to contain any breached oil in Cholpe Bayou from a potential heavy rainfall event. Current weather forecast calls for a 30% chance of rain for the remainder of the week.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

EPA will continue coordination with Federal, State, and local agencies to monitor and provide oversight of ExxonMobil's cleanup activities.

2.2.2 Issues

The current flow in Cholpe Bayou has made the rate of recovery challenging.

2.3 Logistics Section