Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Kinder Morgan Pipeline Spill
Healdton, OK - EPA Region VI
POLREP #1
Initial and Final POLREP

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Kinder Morgan Pipeline Spill - Removal Polrep
Initial and Final Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VI

Subject:

POLREP #1
Initial and Final POLREP
Kinder Morgan Pipeline Spill
E15615
Healdton, OK
Latitude: 34.2450041 Longitude: -97.4921961

To:

From:

Mike McAteer, OSC

Date:

5/24/2015

Reporting Period:

May 23 and 24, 2015

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:	E15615	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:	5/23/2015	Start Date:	5/23/2015
Demob Date:	5/24/2015	Completion Date:	5/24/2015
CERCLIS ID:		RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:
FPN#:	E15615	Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

Oil spill into a creek from abandoned transmission pipeline.

1.1.2 Site Description

Floodwaters on Walnut creek, resulting from several days of heavy rains, scoured out an area where five pipelines cross the creek. The floodwaters also carried large pieces of vegetative debris (i.e., logs and tree branches). Some of this debris piled up inside the scoured out section of the creek and caused one of the pipelines to rupture.

The release of oil from the damaged pipeline entered Walnut creek and was discovered by the property owner who then contacted OCC. OCC personnel inspected the release and contacted EPA. An EPA FOSC was deployed at 1700 and arrived at the site at approximately 1900.

Kinder Morgan Inc. was contacted by OCC since one of the pipelines was owned by them. Kinder Morgan inspected the discharge area and determined that the damaged pipeline was owned by them. Kinder Morgan contacted the NRC regarding the release.

1.1.2.1 Location

The release occurred from the Kinder Morgan pipeline where it crosses Walnut Creek approximately 1/2 mile north of the town of Healdton, Carter County, Oklahoma. The location is specifically located 1500 feet north of West Lake Road and approximately 300 feet west of Hwy 76. It is a predominantly rural area with homes as close as approximately 2500 feet away. Walnut Creek flows southeast from this location and enters the Red River approximately 40 miles downstream.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Approximately 23.5 barrels of crude oil were discharged from the abandoned pipeline directly into Walnut Creek. Walnut creek flows southeast for approximately 40 miles and empties into the Red River (navigable waterway).

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

May 23, 2015: After being contacted by OCC, Kinder Morgan traced their pipeline back to the spill location and determined that the release was from their line, not one of the four other lines that cross the creek at the same point. Kinder Morgan mobilized a local OSRO to the scene to place boom across the creek at several downstream locations. They also opened the ground at the leak location and cut and capped the pipeline. They also removed some of the oil saturated soil at this location.

May 24, 2015: Kinder Morgan added another OSRO to the response to help deploy more hard and sorbent boom in the creek as far south as Hwy U.S. 70. Kinder Morgan's OSRO's also removed most of the oiled debris at the spill location. Sorbent pads were used to clean up oil that was still leaching from the area around the pipe into the creek. A vacuum truck was also brought to the spill location to help remove any residual oil from the creek at the pipeline location. Soil excavated from around the ruptured pipeline was stockpiled near the spill area on visqueen. Oiled debris from the creek was also staged in the site area on visqueen.

The only free oil identified at the incident was in the immediate area of the pipeline rupture and one small area approximately 1 mile downstream (east of Healdton) where vegetative debris in the creek was acting as a partial dam. Only sheen was seen in other areas of the creek up to five miles downstream (Hwy US 70).

As of mid afternoon on May 24th, only a small amount of oil was left on the creek at the spill area. This impacted area covered about the size of 3 or 4 sorbent pads.

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

Kinder Morgan, Inc identified the ruptured pipeline as theirs. The EPA FOSC provided the on site representative from Kinder Morgan with a Notice of Federal Interest (NOFI) on May 24, 2015.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

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

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

Kinder Morgan plans to use an excavator to remove all of the remaining oil-saturated soil from the impacted area in the next 24 hours. They also plan to cut the pipeline on the opposite bank of the creek and then remove the entire section of the pipeline that stretches out over the creek. Sorbent and hard boom will be maintained in the creek until all product and sheen is removed.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

EPA will conduct an additional inspection of the spill area and creek the week of May 25th to confirm that no additional oil is left in the creek.

2.2.2 Issues

2.3 Logistics Section