Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Exxon Mobile Pipeline Release
Tolbert, LA - EPA Region VI
POLREP #2
Progress

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

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VI

Subject:

POLREP #2
Progress
Exxon Mobile Pipeline Release

Tolbert, LA
Latitude: 31.1442440 Longitude: -92.8080486

To:

From:

Mark Hayes, OSC

Date:

5/6/2012

Reporting Period:

5/3/2012 - 5/6/2012

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

Emergency Response

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 a Cholpe Bayou. Oil is present for approximately 0.5 miles in the unnamed ditch and 0.8 miles of Cholpe Bayou.

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 Cholpe Bayou.

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

From 2 May through 6 May 2012 ExxonMobil Pipeline (Exxon) and it's contractors continued 24 hour cleanup activities associated with the spill. The spill within Bayou Cholpe remains controlled within containment boom located approximately 0.15 mile north from the terminus of the smaller drainage ditch and 0.45 miles south of the Hwy. 190 bridge. Oil within the drainage ditch, from the spill site to Bayou Cholpe is contained and isolated. Exxon established collection points throughout the affected area, initially concentrating on three points: the spill terminus in zone C; the Hwy. 190 bridge; and at the intersection of the drainage ditch and Bayou Cholpe. Crews used drum skimmers, direct vacuuming, adsorbent boom, and adsorbent pads to remove oil from the drainage ditch and Bayou Cholpe. Vacuum trucks (up to 27), skid mounted vacuum units (up to 5), and skimmers were utilized to recover oil from the water surface. An airboat was placed within Bayou Cholpe and used airflow from the propeller to push oil along the water surface to collection points. Crews also used pressurized water from shorelines and boats to guide oil towards the collection areas. Logjams and debris fields were cleared from Bayou Cholpe to facilitate flow and recovery. Oiled debris within Bayou Cholpe is being retrieved and placed within roll-off boxes. Crews cleared oiled vegetation at the overland portion of the spill and along the drainage ditch. Exxon is coordinating with the LDEQ to determine cleanup standards for impacted soils.

Exxon constructed an underflow dam across Bayou Cholpe approximately 0.1 miles upstream of Jack Torres road bridge. The dam was constructed to prevent further migration of oil if significant rainfall caused the flow within Bayou Cholpe to increase and containment of oil to be released.

Recovered oil/water was either placed within fractionation tanks for separation and storage or contained within the vacuum truck. Vacuum trucks transported recovered oil/water from the site to Exxon's Anchorage facility in Port Allen, Louisiana to dedicated storage tanks for reprocessing.

Exxon conducted air monitoring for personnel safety throughout the work areas. Air monitoring included the use of Photoionization Detector (PID) instuments and a Draeger Chip System. If benzene levels exceded Exxons action level of 0.5 ppm, crews in the collection area donned respirators.

Exxon crews continued excavation and assesment activities at the ruptured section of pipeline. Impacted soil was excavated and placed within roll-off boxes. Samples were collected from the roll-off boxes and analyzed for disposal parameters. Results indicate the material is nonhazardous allowing for disposal at Waste Management's Woodside facility in Walker, LA. Approximately 88 roll-off boxes, estimated to contain 15 cubic yards of waste each, totalling 1,320 cubic yards will be disposed of at the Woodside facility starting on 7 May 2012. A new section of pipe and associated flanges was delivered to the site and tested. Installation of the pipe is expected to be completed on 7 May, 2012.

Exxon has created a staging area near the spill location. Mobile command posts, sanitary facilities, break areas, supplies, roll-off boxes, equipment laydown areas, decontamination facilities, and emergency medical services are provided to facilitate the response.

Exxon has reported an estimated total of 4,210 bbls of oil and water was recovered and removed offsite as of 1630 5 May 2012. As of 6 May 2012 a total of 212 personnel were onsite, responding to the spill. Of this total, 27 were Exxon personnel and 172 were contracted response contractors. The remainder of personnel included federal, state, and local agencies.

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

Exxon, along with their response contractors will continue 24 hour cleanup activities.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

Exxon plans to continue oil recovery operations on Bayou Cholpe using skimmers, vacuum trucks, adsorbent boom, and adsorbent pads. Oiled debris, oiled vegetation, and impacted soil along the drainage pathway will be removed and contained within roll-off boxes. Crews will use pressurized water to flush oil, where advantageous, to collection points. 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

None.

2.3 Logistics Section