1.1.1 Incident Category
Oil discharge into surface waters.

1.1.2 Site Description
Gasoline from a suspected abandoned underground storage tank has caused a discharge to the Tulula Creek, a tributary of the Santeetah Lake and the Cheoah River. 

1.1.2.1 Location
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Water Resources (NCDEQ) staff responded and documented several seep areas along the left descending bank stretching for approximately 1/4 of a mile. The seep areas extended from just upstream of the Sweetwater Road Bridge that crosses the Cheoah River to Patton Street. 

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Residents that initially reported the spill were complaining of strong gasoline odors, nausea, burning eyes and throat. There is a public drinking water intake downstream of the spill that services the town of Robbinsville, NC.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

EPA received a report from the National Response Center (NRC) as well as a request for assistance from the NCDEQ Division of Water Resources Asheville Regional Office to respond to a spill of an unknown amount of gasoline into the Cheoah River from an unknown source. NC DEQ Water Resources staff responded and documented several seep areas.

There is a public drinking water intake downstream of the spill that services the town of Robbinsville, NC. Notifications were made and the water intake was shut down. The town of Robbinsville has another water intake on a different watershed as well as some water wells that can meet the drinking water supply for the public demand.
The Graham County Health Department and Office of Emergency Management went door to door advising the public of the situation and offering alternative shelter to those that requested to be relocated due to strong vapors/odors.  

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of Interior were notified; EPA was informed that there is a endangered mussel located downstream of the spill location.

Given the location and proximity of the spill to tribal lands, the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians have been notified.

2.1.1 Narrative
EPA has deployed an Emergency Response and Removal Services (ERRS) contractor and the Superfund Technical Assistance and Response Team (START) contractor to assist with response actions.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
ERRS has deployed boom within the creek and has begun to recover product via vacuum truck.  START is conducting air monitoring in the creek and in the residential area.  EPA's Environmental Response Team (ERT) has deployed to assist with source identification.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The NCDEQ is investigating possible sources of the gasoline.  No responsible party has been identified to date.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
EPA ERRS will continue recovery operations.  EPA START will continue air monitoring operations.

EPA's Regional Response Center contractor to mobilize additional air monitoring equipment and the mobile command post to assist with coordination with on-site resources. 

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

EPA and NCDEQ will continue investigation operations to identify and address the source of the discharge.

EPA ERRS to prepare for excavation of saturated soils adjacent to the creek to halt further migration.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

EPA to assist the City of Robbinsville with drinking water sampling and analysis.

2.2.2 Issues

The discharge may be affecting an endangered species.   The USFWS to be on-scene to provide consultation.

EPA contractors onscene - ERRS, START, RRC

EPA Region 4 and EPA ERT onscene

..

A Unified Command has been established.

EPA

NCDEQ

Graham County

City of Robbinsville

EPA - 2

ERRS - 5

START - 2

RRC - 2