Site Number: |
V4CK |
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Contract Number: |
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D.O. Number: |
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Action Memo Date: |
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Response Authority: |
OPA |
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Response Type: |
Emergency |
Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
8/16/2016 |
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Start Date: |
8/16/2016 |
Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
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FPN#: |
E16440 |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
V4CK |
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.
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