1.1.1 Incident Category

This is a Clean Water Act (CWA), Oil Pollution Act (OPA) Emergency Response. A discharge of approximately 330 bbls of crude oil occurred from a pipeline break in Magee, Mississippi. 

1.1.2 Site Description

The National Response Center (NRC) was notified at approximately 1400 on February 16th, 2016 by Witt OBrien's, on behalf of Genesis Energy LP, that a crude oil discharge had occurred in Magee, Mississippi (MS). The crude oil discharged from an eight inch pipeline that was damaged by a fallen tree. The discharge occurred when the river was at flood stage. The initial quantity was unknown. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), conducted an immediate recon and estimated that, at a minimum, 50 barrels of crude oil had discharged into US waters. Specifically, into the Okatoma Creek which is a tributary of the Bouie River. The source is located approximately 1.1 miles from the creek. MDEQ requested support from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday evening at approximately 1930 local time. 

The pipeline discharge has been secured. A Unified Command (UC) has been established and is comprised of the Responsible Party (RP), Genesis Energy, an EPA Federal on Scene Coordinator (FOSC), the MDEQ SOSC and the Simpson County EMA director. 

1.1.2.1 Location

Magee, MS

Latitude: 31.8691667
Longitude: 89.6783333 

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Discharge of crude oil to waters of the U.S.  

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

Initially reported as a minimum 50 bbl discharge has been upgraded to a 330+ bbl discharge.  At the request of MDEQ, the EPA OSC is ensuring/directing the response under a Unified Command that includes the RP, State representation and County EMA. 

The following represents a concise summary of actions to date. For additional information please see link below for documents. 

Link to addtl response documents 

2.1.1 Response Actions to Date

2/16 MDEQ requests assistance from EPA.

2/17 EPA OSC mobilized and integrated into the assessment being performed by MDEQ. UC established, comprised of the EPA, State, County and the Responsible Party.  

2/18 EPA OSC requested additional resources comprised of the following:

• Deputy OSC

• USCG Gulf Strike Team's (GST) Mobile Command and Control Post trailer and six USCG GST personnel

• SCAT team from Atlanta with two Regional OSCs, including contractor support

• Scoped PRFA with MDEQ to address the identification of environmentally sensitive areas, threatened/endangered species and culturally significant areas

• Established receipt of a targeted weather forecast through NOAA

Additional actions:

Issued a Notice of Federal Interest (NOFI). The UC decision was made to usher in additional OSRO resources to execute containment and bulk recovery of pockets of stranded oil from spill point to, at a minimum, two miles downstream the Okatoma Creek.  

2/19

The following tactics were executed on the 19th:

• SCAT began documentation of nature and extent of downstream of known contamination. 
• USCG GST provided oversight for air monitoring, SCAT support, and operational oversight and IMT support. 
•  The OSRO completed the following: 

1. Ensured that the pipeline leak was secured

2. Shored up existing containment

  3. Significantly increased manpower

  4. Accelerated bulk recovery and removal 

• UC established a JIC and communicated with outside stakeholders via fact sheets, public web page and on site media interviews
• UC conducted extensive coordination with affected land owners including access and issues of concern

02/20

According to the National Weather Center (NWC), impending inclement weather was expected to impact the location no later than the evening of February 21st. Therefore, the UC decided to accelerate the removal of saturated soils near the source area via mechanical excavation.  

Significant progress was made concerning the removal of pooled oil within Segment E immediately south of Hwy 28 bridge. 

Submission and approval of the Site Safety Plan and Inclement Weather Contingency Plan completed by the UC. 

A SCAT assessment was completed four miles downstream of the Hwy 28 bridge. This assessment encompassed Segment F, where they identified two additional areas of recoverable oil. 

The USCG GST continued to support the EPA OSC by providing operational oversight in the field and mobile air monitoring.

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

Genesis Energy LP is the potentially responsible party. 

2.2.1 Planned Response Activities

Please see the document section for IAPs concerning future planned actions. 

2.2.2 Issues

The threat of inclement weather is driving significant increase in resources to accelerate the recovery of discharged oil. 

3.1 Unified Command

See IAP organizational chart.