Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Tar Creek Oil Spill
Crosby, MS - EPA Region IV
POLREP #1
Mobilization and Initial Assessment

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Tar Creek Oil Spill - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IV

Subject:

POLREP #1
Mobilization and Initial Assessment
Tar Creek Oil Spill

Crosby, MS
Latitude: 31.2743700 Longitude: -91.1052500

To:

From:

Leo Francendese, OSC

Date:

6/4/2015

Reporting Period:

6/4/2015

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:		Contract Number:
D.O. Number:		Action Memo Date:
Response Authority:	OPA	Response Type:	Emergency
Response Lead:	EPA	Incident Category:	Removal Action
NPL Status:	Non NPL	Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:	6/4/2015	Start Date:	6/4/2015
Demob Date:		Completion Date:
CERCLIS ID:		RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:
FPN#:	E15437	Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

This is an emergency response to a spill of oil to waters of the United States.

1.1.2 Site Description

The Site consists of a production well and impacted waters of the United States. Approximately 20 bbls of oil have been observed in the intermittent creek and the immediately adjacent Tar Creek near Hwy 33. The area is wooded forestland adjacent to several nearby residences.

1.1.2.1 Location

The nearest town is Crosby, MS. The coordinates for the Site are 31.27437N 91.10525W.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Oil has discharged to waters of the United States from a production facility. The initial discharge has been secured.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

An anonymous report to the NRC indicated approximately 20 bbls of crude had entered into Tar Creek. The SOSC confirmed the quantity of oil on the evening of 6/5/2015. The EPA OSC joined him shortly thereafter for a debrief concerning the assessment.

An intermittent creek is immediately adjacent to the facility which enters into Tar Creek, then Foster Creek, then Homochitto River and then the Mississippi River. The distance to the Mississippi River is approximately 50 miles.

Early and yet to be substantiated information received on-site indicate that the spill occurred in mid May and may have been as large as 200 bbls lost from the facility and 100 bbls lost to waters of the United States. The OSC will continue the investigation as per the National Contingency Plan.

The PRP is unable to secure the necessary response resources and further action will be conducted by the OSC and SOSC in Unified Command.

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Response Actions to Date

The EPA OSC and MDEQ SOSC are working under Unified Command to ensure the following priorities:

1. Safety of the public and responders.
2. Protect the environment.
3. Prevent additional migration.
4. Minimize property loss.
5. Facilitate production facility recovery.
6. Maintain public/media confidence.

Unified Command will execute:

1. Adequate environmental response resources of approx 10 responders to provide mostly hand recovery tactics of booming, herding, padding and debris removal of recoverable oil as well as accessible downstream containment.
2. Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Techniques (SCAT) activities, as needed, to document sensitive ecosystems, threatened and endangered species, extent of impacted waters and recommended response techniques
3. National Incident Management System (NIMS) documentation on an initial 24 hour operational period.
4. Approved health and safety plan including as needed air monitoring.
5. Approved waste management plan.
6. Operations and maintenance plan once bulk removal of recoverable oil has been achieved.

Limits and Constraints:

1. The RP is unable to secure adequate response resources.
2. The terrain is difficult to access, dense woodland, requiring primarily manpower driven tactics.
3. Sensitivity to the nearby residences concerning access and use of a narrow public road.
4. Frequent precipitation.
5. Venomous snakes in the impacted area.

The above activities are being funded via a PRFA with MDEQ. The PRFA is approved by the OSC. Verification of activities performed will be conducted by the OSC with assistance from the USCG GST.

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

The RP is Big River Oil Field Supply

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Planned Response Activities

The OSC will continue the investigation concerning original quantity discharged, timeliness of the NRC report and cause of the discharge.

Bulk removal response actions are initially expected to take place over the next 5 days.

The OSC is in coordination with the NPFC concerning the continued federalization of this response. The Site is initially funded for $50,000. A ceiling increase of approximately $65,000 is being requested, which if approved will bring the new ceiling to approximately $115,000.

2.3 Logistics Section