1.1.1 Incident Category

Oil Spill Emergency Response

1.1.2 Site Description

At approximately 10:15 am Saturday, November 28, a crude oil truck overturned in Provo Canyon releasing its load.  The truck appeared to be carrying waxy crude from the Uinta Basin, and the oil  solidified along the drainage and in the Provo River.  An estimated 150-1000 gallons of crude flowed into the Provo River.

The spill occurred approximately 3/4  - 1 mile upstream from the Olmstead Diversion Dam.  The Diversion Dam provides drinking water supplies for Orem, Provo and Salt Lake City.  The Central Utah Water District was promptly notified, and they closed their intake approximately 30 minutes before the first observation of oil. The water district is pulling water from an alternative source at this time. The water district also deployed boom which appears to have successfully captured much of the oil.  Thanks to the quick thinking and quick actions of the first responders and the Central Water District, the impacts from the spill have been substantially reduced.

1.1.2.1 Location

Near Mile Marker 13 on Highway 189 in Provo Canyon, Utah County, Utah

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Oil has entered waters of the United States.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

The tanker wreck caused the discharge of approximately 5,000 gallons of crude oil (the entirety of the load) to the road shoulder and stream bank of the Provo River.  It is estimated that up to 1,000 gallons of the Uinta crude oil entered the Provo River.  Local officials with the Utah County Sheriff's Department and the North Fork Fire Protection District were quick to notify downstream water users and to bring in an environmental contractor (EnviroCare) to berm the crash site and to deploy boom in the Provo River.  At this time it appears that the oil has been diverted away from the nearest water intake, the Olmstead Diversion Dam.  This Diversion Dam has been shut down and defensive measures are in place.  There are no reports of impacts from further downstream water users.

Due to the cold weather and water temperature, along with the waxy nature of the Uinta crude, the oil has largely congealed into soft solid chunks.  This has greatly slowed the spread of the oil, but it does eliminate the use of vacuum trucks in oil recovery.  Crews are currently physically raking and lifting the congealed oil by hand from behind the collection booms.

2.1.1 Narrative

Local responders took quick steps to secure the scene and limit the spread of oil.  The wrecked tanker was removed from the scene.  On 11/29/2015 workers began removing contaminated soil from the crash scene, as well as chunks of oil from the Provo River at two collection points.  All water intakes on the Provo River downstream of the spill have been shut down, with alternative sources  brought on-line. These activities will continue into the next operational period.

Personnel from the UDEQ water program, along with OSC Dhieux, have and will continue to collect water samples from the Provo River and to monitor the sundry water intakes along the river.

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

Savage Services, Inc. of Midvale, Utah, is the Responsible Party.  They have representatives on-scene.

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

Oil collection will likely continue over the next few days.  This work will have to be coordinated with road repair and normally heavy ski season traffic.  UDEQ will continue to collect water samples and monitor the water intakes along the Provo River.

2.2.2 Issues

2.4.1 Narrative

An EPA OSC and ERRS crew mobilized to the spill scene on 11/28/2015.  However, local and RP efforts are successfully mitigating spill impacts, so the ERRS crew was demobilized on 11/29/2015. Future EPA costs should be limited to OSC oversight.

* 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.

2.5.1 Safety Officer

NA

2.5.2 Liaison Officer

NA

2.5.3 Information Officer

3.1 Unified Command

Utah County, UDEQ, N. Fork Fire, and EPA are in Unified Command

3.2 Cooperating Agencies

6.1 Internet location of additional information/report

epaosc.org

 
6.2 Reporting Schedule