On 8/2/2015 Pacific time, Typhoon Soudelor made landfall at CNMI, directly over Saipan and very near Tinian, as a Category 2 typhoon.  Soudelor brought hurricane force winds (near 105mph), heavy rains and coastal inundation.

Initial reports indicated that an above-ground storage tank containing gasoline at the Mobil Oil Mariana Islands tank farm was damaged, opening a gash approximately 3 feet above the tank bottom. Tank 10 (230,000 gallon capacity) was impacted by a transportation container causing a 4-6 inch tear in the tank wall. Capacity of the damaged tank is unknown but gasoline has released into secondary containment.  Secondary containment  held and did not overtop from typhoon rain. 

AFFF foam blanket was used to reduce evaporation, VOCs, benzene, and ignition risk.  Mobil was on scene as responsible party.  The Container is still in place but cannot be moved.  Three other containers are resting on a pipeline that feeds the Commonwealth Utility Corporation (CUC) power plant with diesel.  Mobil is pumping out containment area with a diaphragm pump using generator power.

The Coast Guard Sector Guam opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to address the gasoline release and the diesel fuel release from the fuel tank on Delta Wharf.  The CG Sector Guam is acting as first federal official on scene however, the Mobil gasoline release is in the inland zone and thus, EPA’s responsibility.  EPA has deployed 2 OSCs to the Mobil spill.

06 Aug 2015 at 1900 (Saipan)

LTJG Davis, USCG Sector Guam, provided a thorough brief to OSC Weden on USCG oversight of the Mobil Micronesia Terminal Saipan Oil Spill under FPN 15010.  OSC Weden assumed lead for this case under a separate (EPA) FPN E15902.

07 Aug 2015 (Saipan)

EPA coordinated with USCG-PST and Mobil Oil regarding operations.  A plan is being prepared to move the containers adjacent to the tank farm berm, so that the container which impacted Tank 10 can be moved.  Three of the containers adjacent to the terminal are resting on a pipeline that fuels the CUC power plant.

Due to off-loading ships of relief supplies is higher priority, Saipan Stevedore Co., will not be able to remove the containers affecting the Mobil Terminal until the relief ship off-loading is complete.  There are still safety issues with the tank and the amount of gasoline which is still inside, so transfer operations continue to be conducted by gravity feed.  Air monitoring continues.

08 Aug 2015 (Saipan)

EPA continues to coordinate with USCG-PST and Mobil Oil regarding operations.  Mobil has removed all but a nominal amount of fuel from Tank #10 (breached by a falling container during Typhoon Soudelor).  With the spilled material all removed and LEL levels consistently zero or very low, Mobil commenced loading distribution truck via generator powered pumps vs gravity feed. 

09 Aug 2015 (Saipan)

EPA and USCG met with Saipan Stevedores and Mobil Saipan to address the removal of the three containers resting on the CUC pipeline, the removal of container against Tank #10, and the remaining pile of containers adjacent to the Mobil Terminal.

Saipan Stevedores agreed to clear a path with their crane to access to the Mobil Terminal.  Powerlines strung above the operational space will need to be cut and secured after it is confirmed they are de-energized.  Saipan Stevedores agreed to provide a full crew and crane operator for this action during lull periods of off-loading relief supplies from container ships.  This effort should to be completed on or about 15 Aug 2015.

* 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.