U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Shell Refinery Noxious Odor Response - Removal Polrep
Initial and Final Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region X
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Subject:
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POLREP #1
Shell Refinery Noxious Odor Response - First and Final PolRep
Shell Refinery Noxious Odor Response
Anacortes, WA
Latitude: 48.4656865 Longitude: -122.5599202
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To:
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From:
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Calvin Terada, Emergency Response Unit Manager
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Date:
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2/26/2015
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Reporting Period:
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2nd Quarter
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
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Contract Number: |
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D.O. Number: |
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Action Memo Date: |
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Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Emergency |
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Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Assessment |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
2/20/2015 |
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Start Date: |
2/20/2015 |
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Demob Date: |
2/21/2015 |
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Completion Date: |
2/27/2015 |
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CERCLIS ID: |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
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FPN#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
CERCLA Emergency Response
1.1.2 Site Description
The Shell Refinery is located at 8505 South Texas Road, Anacortes, Washington on a peninsula called March Point. March Point is located near Padilla Bay which serves as a strategic and safe harbor location for receiving and loading crude oil or refined products via marine vessels. The Shell Refinery is located immediately adjacent to the Tesoro Plant, which is the other refinery located on March Point. The Shell Refinery processes as much as 145,000 barrels of crude oil into products such as gasoline, fuel oil, diesel fuel, butane, petroleum coke, and a petrochemical called nonene on a daily basis.
1.1.2.1 Location
The Shell Refinery is located at 8505 South Texas Road, Anacortes, Washington on a peninsula called March Point. March Point is located within Padilla Bay, which is part of the Puget Sound. The refinery is located east of the City of Anacortes, Washington and north of the City of LaConner and the Swinomish Reservation
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Shell personnel reported that a scrubber unit connected to the East flare was being decontaminated, as part of routine maintenance, when the odor release occurred. The use of steam to dissolve the contaminants that are built up in the scrubber unit may be one of the causes for the odor release. Once Shell started receiving odor complaints, an immediate shutdown of the maintenance activity was ordered with internal confirmation of the shutdown within about 1 hour. Weather conditions in the area may have exacerbated the release and caused some areas to be more affected by the odor than others. Specifically, the Swinomish Village and Shelter Bay area appeared to have been most affected by the odor release. Shell personnel reported that once they received the initial public complaints of the odor, teams with air monitoring instruments (teams monitored for benzene, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, Lower Explosive Limit) were dispatched to assess the potential impact to the community. Benzene and hydrogen sulfide are CERCLA hazardous substances. All levels were found to be below thresholds that could impact public health according to Shell personnel. A list of the specific chemical constituents that make up the odor is not known at this time. According to Shell personnel, the first reports of the odor were received around 3:30PM on Friday, 20 February 2015 with the last reports of the odor dissipating around 8:00PM on Friday, 20 February 2015.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
ER Chief Terada and OSC Boykin met with Shell personnel to confirm that the release was stopped and discussed necessary follow up actions, including enhanced community outreach and follow-up with the Swinomish Tribe. Upon conclusion of the briefing with Shell personnel, ER Chief Terada and OSC Boykin drove around Marchs Point (area of the Shell and Tesoro Refineries), City of LaConner, Shelter Bay, and Swinomish Village to confirm there were no lingering odors.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
In the late afternoon of Friday, 20 February 2015, the EPA Duty Officer began receiving complaints from the public regarding a strong noxious odor in the area around the City of LaConner, Washington. By mid-evening on Friday, 20 February 2015, ER Chief Terada received a call from Regional Administrator (RA) McLerran regarding a call he received from Chairman Brian Cladoosby, Swinomish Tribe, about the odors on the Reservation and tribal members experiencing health effects from the odors. After receiving the information relayed by RA McLerran and confirming that no other local or State responders were planning to be on-scene, the Duty Officer deployed ER Chief Terada and OSC Boykin to respond to the Shell Refinery in Anacortes, Washington on Friday late evening, 20 February 2015. The primary mission for ER Chief Terada and OSC Boykin was to meet with Shell representatives to (1) determine the nature of the release and confirm that the release is secured, (2) assess and coordinate a more aggressive public messaging, and (3) conduct a physical site visit of areas with reports of odors (March Point, Swinomish Village, and Shelter Bay near LaConner, Washington. ER Chief Terada and OSC Boykin demobilized on early Saturday morning, 21 February 2015.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
ER Chief Terada and OSC Boykin discussed necessary activities with Shell personnel including community outreach and follow up with the Swinomish Tribe. Shell subsequently implemented these actions.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The PRP is Shell Refinery located in Anacortes, Washington
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
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Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
None
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
None
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
If additional investigation or information collection is requested, the EPA Region 10 ER Program is standing by to provide additional assistance, as needed.
2.2.2 Issues
None
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2.3 Logistics Section
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N/A
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2.4 Finance Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.5 Other Command Staff
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2.5.1 Safety Officer
N/A
2.5.2 Liaison Officer
N/A
2.5.3 Information Officer
Numerous press inquires were received by Monday, 23 February 2015. PIO MacIntyre responded and addressed questions and concerns, as requested. A desk statement was produced on Wednesday, 26 February 2015 to serve as additional talking points for future press inquires.
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
None
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
NW Clean Air Agency, Swinomish Tribe, Swinomish Tribal Police, Washington Department of Ecology, Skagit County Emergency Management,
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4. Personnel On Site
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ER Chief Terada and OSC Boykin on-scene on 20-21 February 2015 and demobilized on 21 February 2015.
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5. Definition of Terms
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N/A
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6. Additional sources of information
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
N/A
6.2 Reporting Schedule
N/A
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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N/A
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