1.1.1 Incident Category

 
OPA Spill Response

1.1.2 Site Description

On 15 June 2016, Urban Oil and Gas reported an oil spill to the National Response Center (NRC).  The spill volume was unknown at the time of the report but indicated that oil had impacted Deer Creek near Kamay, Wichita County, Texas.  The NRC assigned the incident #1150760.   

1.1.2.1 Location

The oil spill occurred the Pace Homestead Lease tank battery (TXRRC #13579) located at  33.880670° N latitude and 98.773187° W latitude near Deer Creek, and the community of Kamay, Wichita County, Texas.  Deer Creek is a tributary of the Wichita River, located approximately 1.25 miles downstream.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

An estimated 69 barrels of crude oil discharged from an oil storage tank that was suspected to have corroded at the base of the tank to the point of failure, resulting in the discharge.  At the time of the discharge, the water drain valve within the secondary containment berm was unplugged, allowing the discharged oil to escape secondary containment.  The discharged oil flowed downhill via land surface drainage gullies and entered Deer Creek approximately 710 feet down-gradient of the tank battery. Deer Creek is a tributary of the Wichita River, located approximately 1.25 miles downstream of the point of discharge.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

On 17 June 2016, the RP continued oil recovery operations on Deer Creek utilizing a small boat, leaf blowers, and water pumps to flush remaining oil held within vegetation to the recovery locations.  The RP began cleanup of the tank battery and used water to flush the spill pathway of the tributary leading to Deer Creek. Sorbent boom and pads were placed at the intersection of the tributary and Deer Creek to contain oil and recover it using vacuum trucks. All used sorbent material and oil impacted vegetation will be bagged and staged near the field office for future transportation by Wichita Falls Waste Management to an authorized disposal facility. No recoverable oil was observed at recovery locations or downstream of the underflow dam.

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

The Responsible Partly associated with the spill scene is Urban Oil and Gas, 1000 E. 14th Street, Plano, TX 75074.  EPA OSC Ruhl issued them a Notice of Federal Interest (NOFI) letter to the RP on 16 June 2016.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

The RP is expected to maintain the level of resources responding to the incident.  The RP is expected to continue to contain and actively recover oil from Deer Creek. The RP is expected to secure an authorized disposal facility for the disposal of recoverable oil, oil impacted soil and oil impacted vegetation.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

Oil response and recovery operations.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

During the 18 - 21 June 2016 operations, the RP will continue the removal of oil impacted debris and soil, and continue water washing of the banks of Deer Creek. The RP will provide EPA updates on cleanup progress   EPA will conduct a final site walk to ensure that the spill response is complete.

2.2.2 Issues

3.1 Unified Command
Texas Railroad Commission (TXRRC)

3.2 Cooperating Agencies