1.1.1 Incident Category

Oil Spill Emergency Response

1.1.2 Site Description

At approximately 10:15 am Saturday, November 28, 2015, a crude oil truck overturned in Provo Canyon releasing its load.  The truck carried waxy crude from the Uinta Basin, and the oil solidified along the drainage and in the Provo River.  An estimated 1,000 - 1,200 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 withdrew water from an alternative source during the spill response. The water district also deployed boom which 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 were 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 4,500 gallons of crude oil (the entirety of the load) to the road shoulder and stream bank of the Provo River.  Savage Oil later revised the estimate to approximately 3,500 gallons spilled. It is estimated that 1,000-1,200 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.  The oil was diverted away from the nearest water intake, the Olmstead Diversion Dam. This Diversion Dam was shut down and defensive measures were deployed.  There were 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 largely congealed into soft solid chunks.  This greatly slowed the spread of the oil, but it did eliminate the use of vacuum trucks in oil recovery.  Crews physically raked and lifted 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 November 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 were shut down, with alternative sources brought on-line.

Personnel from the UDEQ Water Program, along with OSC Dhieux, collected water samples from the Provo River on November 28 and 29, 2015.  Central Utah Water District also collected water samples.  The water sample results were low and/or non-detect for oil-related constituents.

The Provo River is valued as a blue ribbon fishery and is a highly used recreational area.  In this section of the river, there are numerous families of beaver and muskrat.  No impacts to wildlife or fish were observed.  This is not surprising, given the waxy nature of the crude oil which has solidified in the cold water into flakes and chunks.

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 continued through mid-December 2015, with the majority of the cleanup completed by December 7, 2015.  The boom will remain in place through Spring 2016 to collect any oil that might have been stuck in the ice or vegetation.  The amount of oil remaining in the river is expected to be minimal. 

On December 3-4, 2015, Savage received approval to close one lane of the highway.  The road closure allowed for safe removal of oil stained soil and vegetation adjacent to the road at the spill site.  In addition, the storm water sewer was cleaned and washed by hand.  Pacific West conducted the cleanup of this area of the spill. 

In addition, Envirocare deployed several crews in boats along the river banks to collect oil.  There were small areas along the banks with stranded flakes of oil.  With several crews working, the majority of this oil was collected by December 7, 2015.  Envirocare was also able to successfully collect oil that had been stranded in ice during a brief warm weather period on December 10-11, 2015.  

 2.2.2 Issues

2.5.1 Safety Officer

NA

2.5.2 Liaison Officer

NA

2.5.3 Information Officer

3.1 Unified Command

UDEQ, EPA and Savage were in Unified Command

3.2 Cooperating Agencies

Central Utah Water

U.S. Fish and Wildlife

6.1 Internet location of additional information/report

Please visit www.epaosc.org/provorivercrudeoil

 
6.2 Reporting Schedule