Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Owens Cross Roads Oil Spill
Owens Cross Roads, AL - EPA Region IV
POLREP #1
INITIAL/FINAL

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Owens Cross Roads Oil Spill - Removal Polrep
Initial and Final Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IV

Subject:

POLREP #1
INITIAL/FINAL
Owens Cross Roads Oil Spill
V4AD
Owens Cross Roads, AL
Latitude: 34.6306220 Longitude: -86.4615000

To:

From:

Chuck Berry, OSC

Date:

5/18/2015

Reporting Period:

4/30/2015 - 5/2/2015

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:	V4AD	Contract Number:
D.O. Number:		Action Memo Date:
Response Authority:	OPA	Response Type:	Emergency
Response Lead:	EPA	Incident Category:	Removal Action
NPL Status:	Non NPL	Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:	4/30/2015	Start Date:	4/30/2015
Demob Date:	5/2/2015	Completion Date:	5/2/2015
CERCLIS ID:		RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:	1115181	State Notification:	ADEM
FPN#:	E15429	Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category
Oil Pollution Act (OPA) / Clean Water Act (CWA) Emergency Response

1.1.2 Site Description
Fresh motor oil was released to an unnamed water body from a tractor trailer involved in an accident and fire. The owner of the truck was not determined at the time of the accident due to death of the driver and complete consumption of the vehicle in the fire. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) was on scene and initiated a response.

1.1.2.1 Location
On US Highway 431, approximately 1/4 mile south of the Huntsville City Limit in Owens Cross Roads, Madison County, Alabama. GPS coordinates of 34.630672°N, 86.461502°W.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The truck carried a total of 4,104 gallons of motor oil in its cargo and 260 gallons of diesel fuel. The accident released an unknown amount of petroleum products into an unnamed tributary of the Flint River. The oil threatened to migrate into the Flint River, a tributary of the Tennessee River, which is a tributary of the Mississippi River, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico. All affected waterways are considered navigable waters of the United States as described in 40 CFR 110.1 and 40 CFR 122.2 as the relate to the CWA.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
NA

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative
At approximately 1600 on April 30, a tractor trailer fully loaded with quart bottles of new motor oil ran off US Highway 431 about 15 miles south of downtown Huntsville, AL, in the small town of Owens Cross Roads, AL. The northbound truck ran off the highway into the center median strip just as the highway crosses an unnamed tributary of the Flint River. The Flint River is about 1/2 mile downstream and is a direct tributary to the Tennessee River, which it intersects about 15 river miles further downstream. There was little flow in the tributary, although there was standing water in a pond beneath the bridge spans. The truck struck the retaining wall at the beginning of the span, flipped over and forward, landing between the two bridge spans. The cargo trailer was flipped into the air and onto the southbound bridge span. The cargo was flung out of the trailer, covering most of the area under the bridge spans with a layer of quart bottles and boxes. The truck ignited, burning both the on-board fuel and some of the cargo. The driver was killed in the incident. Fire fighters allowed the fire to mostly burn out before applying foam. Many of the containers were punctured in the wreck or partially melted, allowing the motor oil to leak out into the unnamed tributary. Absorbent boom was placed at the outfalls on both ends of the pond by the responding fire department. Due to approaching darkness, the FD was unable to determine how far along this unnamed tributary the oil migrated and if any entered the Flint River. ADEM responded and made the necessary notifications. Because the driver was killed and the truck was burned beyond identification, the Responsible Party was not immediately identified. EPA Telephone Duty issued a Pollution Removal Funding Authorization (PRFA) to allow ADEM to initiate response activities. OSC Berry was also dispatched in case there were impacts downstream. OSC Berry arrived at 0200 and met with ADEM. The wrecker service was in the process of removing the last of the vehicle parts from the bridge spans. ADEM used the PRFA to contract with SWS, Inc. (SWS), which was on site with 2 vac trucks and a roll off.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
SWS had to wait until the Alabama Department of Transportation (DOT) completed a bridge safety inspection and the DOT wrecker contractor removed as much of the truck as was feasible, given the damage and limited equipment, before fully engaging in the cleanup. EPA OSC Berry, ADEM State OSC James Luken, and SWS Response Manager Darrell Pierson met and discuss a plan of action.

SWS began the response by removing the free oil and water from beneath the spans and stored this liquid in frac tanks deposited at a nearby strip mall parking lot. SWS then manually segregated the bottles of oil based on competency. Those still intact were later opened and drained into a bulk container. Those damaged in the accident and leaking were managed with the other oil-impacted debris and soil.

Once dawn appeared, OSC Berry inspected the unnamed tributary downstream of the spill. No oil impacts were noted nor observed in the first 100 meters (328 feet) downstream of the absorbent boom installed by the fire department. OSC Berry remained on scene while SOSC Luken using a boxtop from the cargo with the lot number printed on it, tried to determine if the truck's cargo originated at a local oil packaging plant. SOSC Luken returned with information on the truck, the owner, and the dispatch company. ADEM would follow up to determine the responsible party. OSC Berry demobilized at approximately 11 am on May 1.

That afternoon, SWS mobilized in an excavator to remove the oil-impacted debris and soil from the area beneath the spans. After shutting down on the afternoon of May 1 for the crews to get some rest, site activities resumed on the morning of May 2. The soil was scraped to a visually-clean standard, with activities completed early that evening. SWS then initiated a plan to inspect and maintain boom in the tributary until sufficient rain occurred to mobilize any remaining product.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
SOSC Luken took a boxtop from the cargo to a local oil packaging plant and received positive confirmation that the truck was loaded at that facility. All but one truck loaded with that lot number was accounted for at the receiving locations. ADEM contacted the dispatch company and was eventually able to determine the truck was owned by R. Trading out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. R. Trading's Insurance Company, National Indemnity Company, agreed to take over direct payment to SWS after the fact. In an email to SOSC Luken, dated May 19, 2015, National Indemnity Company confirmed this with ADEM. ADEM requested the PRFA be terminated.

R. Trading's contact information is 137107 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126, (313) 583-4404.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

*Waste Stream*	*Medium*	*Quantity*	*Manifest #*	*Treatment*	*Disposal*
Oil-impacted soil and debris	Solid	80 CY		Landfill
Petroleum contact water	Liquid	14,000 gallons		Recovery
Recovered Motor Oil	Product	2,150 quarts		Recycling

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
No additional field activities are anticipated for this site.

2.2.2 Issues
There are no remaining issues for this site.

2.3 Logistics Section