1.1.1 Incident Category
Oil Spill Response & Removal Assessment

1.1.2 Site Description
The site is comprised of an agricultural and industrial property with a 3,000 gallon above ground storage tank (AST) estimated to have held approximately 2,200 gallons of used oil, of which an estimated 1,500 gallons was released.  The released oil flowed overland to a nearby stormwater drain and then through a series of open irrigation ditches and culverts that drain into Sulphur Creek and then into the Yakima River.  The irrigation ditches flow through residential, industrial, and agricultural areas, some of which may use this water for irrigation or drinking water purposes. 

1.1.2.1 Location
The release location is at 2330 Outlook Road, in Sunnyside, Yakima County, Washington. 

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Used oil discharged through a broken sight-glass on the 3,000-gallon AST, releasing approximately 1,500 gallons. Though the tank release point has been secured, the oil has impacted a stormwater drain, which discharges into an irrigation ditch along Yakima Valley Highway, then into the Sulphur Creek, and the Yakima River.  The Yakima River is a navigable waterway of the U.S. and has active fisheries and hatcheries, of which the Yakima Nation Prosser Hatchery is the closest, approximately 8 miles downstream from the point of release.  Oil sheen was observed in the vicinity of the hatchery.

Resources at Risk:
Habitat Concerns:  Islands, sloughs and wetlands provide critical resting and feeding areas for wildlife and serve as important rearing areas for resident fish.  Various deep and shallow water river habitats support freshwater fish including species important to sport fishery such as trout, bass, crappie, and catfish. Additionally, numerous other small generally shallow water species such as dace, stickleback and sculpins occur here and serve as important food sources for birds, larger fish and other wildlife. Their occurrence in shallow water makes them more susceptible to the toxic effects of petroleum.  Riparian habitats are heavily used by wildlife including river otter, beaver, muskrat, and raccoon.                                                                                                                                   

Wildlife Concerns:  Waterfowl concentrations, great blue heron, and bald eagles nests throughout. River otters, muskrats, and beaver are present and vulnerable to oil exposure.
                                           

Fish Concerns:  Sloughs are critical rearing habitat for resident fish.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Seven samples of the oil released were collected at various locations, and submitted to a laboratory for analysis by Ecology.  Results indicated lubricating oil and diesel, and PCBs were below the laboratory detection limit.  Analytical results for metals and finger printing is expected in the coming days. 

2.1.1 Narrative

Oil Containment and Recovery: Current operations include deploying boom to contain, control, and collect oil in the stormwater drain, irrigation ditches, Sulphur Creek, and Yakima River.  Ecology has mobilized its contractor, NRC, to perform oil containment and recovery.  The extent of oil contamination has yet to be fully assessed though initial reconnaissance data is being processed for future operational periods.  No geographic response plans are available for the current area of operations.  Boom deployments have been prioritized at areas where oil is recoverable or where sensitive resources are known to exist. 

Wildlife Response: As reports of additional oiled or dead wildlife are received, Focus Resources will attempt to locate, recover, decontaminate and rehabilitate oiled wildlife.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
During the time period from 03/06/2015 to 03/075/2015, Ecology and their contractor, NRC; EPA and START, and Yakama Nation staff responded to the site and: 

Division A

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

Division A

• Clean-up and removal of spilled oil and absorbent on asphalt surrounding the AST and leading down to the catch basin and potential removal of the contaminated asphalt and underlying soil.
• Removal of oily solid waste from the silo vaults.
• Emptying and potentially removal of gasoline UST.
• Locate and track the piping path from the source AST to off-site collection locations (irrigation system).
• Perform a dye test to confirm connections between the piping and vaults of the irrigation system. 
• Potentially excavate the contaminated concrete from the silo pads and associated soil.

Division B 

Division C

• Continue collection of used oil migrating downstream from Division B.

Division D

• Continue use of sorbent boom, hard boom at confluence of Sulphur Creek and Yakima River.

Divisiion E

• Continue use of hard boom and sorbent at the Mabton Road Bridge.

Divisiion F

• Continue use of sorbent pads and pom-poms to collect pooled oil. 
• Monitor effectiveness of the sorbents in place to determine if further action is needed.

Wildlife

• Continue wildlife rehabilitation in Mobile Response Unit set up in Pasco, WA.
• Continue collection of oiled water fowl, and other wildlife identified for decontamination and rehabilitation. 
• Potentially perform collection of the oiled non-native water fowl adjacent to Division D for decontamination and rehabilitation. 

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

2.2.2 Issues
The Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District will begin discharging water through the irrigation canals on or about March 17^th, which includes Sulphur Creek.  The volume of water discharging through the system expected to double or triple current volumes which will likely make capturing any remaining residual oil more difficult. 

* The above accounting of expenditures is an estimate based on figures known to the OSC at the time this report was written. The OSC does not necessarily receive specific figures on final payments made to any contractor(s). Other financial data which the OSC must rely upon may not be entirely up-to-date. The cost accounting provided in this report does not necessarily represent an exact monetary figure which the government may include in any claim for cost recovery.

EPA Region 10 – Jeff Fowlow, FOSC
DOE – Jeff Lewis, SOSC
Yakama Nation – Elizabeth Sanchey, Tribal OSC
Luke Deaton – PRP representative