1.1.1 Incident Category

Emergency Response.  NRC #1142139

1.1.2 Site Description

Facility located in a commercial area adjacent to a creek.  Facility makes margarine.  

1.1.2.1 Location

3900 Vanderbilt Road, Jefferson County, Birmingham, AL

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Process water containing oil threatening navigable water.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

Upon arrival, the OSC walked the impacted area of Village Creek with Ventura Foods representatives.  A few pockets of the spill were visible in creek adjacent to facility.  The facility's contractor, SWS, was vacuuming the  remaining spill pockets.  The facility was also conducting a dye test to determine where the spill originated.  It is believed the spill occurred from an underground pipe.  OSC, Ventura Foods, and SWS followed the creek for a couple miles.  Spill material was no longer visible downstream of facility.  SWS had placed absorbent boom in creek and had collected about 20,000 gallons of process water mixed with creek water.  A temporary bypass system was being installed until the facility could determine where the spill was occurring.  The facility was temporarily shutdown.

OSC returned to facility on March 8, 2016, to view progress.  There were no spill pockets seen.  Another dye test was being conducted as the facility had not determined the location of spill.  The facility hired a contractor to use a camera to determine spill location within the pipes.  Facility operations continued to be temporarily shutdown.  A NOFI was given to the H&S Manager.  Ventura Foods provided a copy of their SPCC Plan to EPA's Phone Duty Officer.  

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

Ventura Foods is the PRP. 

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

A SPCC inspection will be conducted.  

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

None