Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Wolf Creek Pass Tanker
South Fork, CO - EPA Region VIII
POLREP #6

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Wolf Creek Pass Tanker - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VIII

Subject:

POLREP #6
Wolf Creek Pass Tanker
Z8D7
South Fork, CO
Latitude: 37.4748581 Longitude: -106.7816162

To:

From:

Pete Stevenson, OSC

Date:

5/1/2012

Reporting Period:

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:	08Z8	Contract Number:
D.O. Number:		Action Memo Date:
Response Authority:	OPA	Response Type:	PRP Oversight
Response Lead:	PRP	Incident Category:	Removal Action
NPL Status:	Non NPL	Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:		Start Date:	12/4/2009
Demob Date:		Completion Date:
CERCLIS ID:		RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:
FPN#:	E10802	Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

1.1.2 Site Description

The tanker accident occurred 11/14/09 at milepost 179, US Hwy 160, Rio Grande County, (approximately 4 ½ miles south of South Fork, Colorado. An estimated 3,800 gallons of gasoline drained from the overturned tanker across and under the highway into wetlands between the highway and the South Fork Rio Grande River.

1.1.2.1 Location

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Groundwater contamination and, at a minimum, dissolved BTEX are impacting the river. The product continues to bleed out of the bedrock below the highway into a wetlands immediately adjacent to the river. The river is thought to be habitat for the Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout. There are many water users downstream. The wetlands is on property administered by the US Forest Service, Rio Grande National Forest.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative
11/18: PRP-contracted cleanup contractor arrived on Site for initial recon, followed by crew mobilization.
11/19: Cleanup contractor initiated detailed surface and sub-surface survey(s) in the wetlands beween the highway and the river, and along riverbanks downstream of the accident site.
12/01: Cleanup contractor initiated installation of monitoring/recovery/extraction wells and trenches.
12/03: Cleanup contractor initiated recovery of free-product from various wells and trenches via bailing, pumping and sorbents.
12/21: Contractors temporarily ceased on-site activities due to inclement weather and holiday road restrictions.
Cleanup contractor notified down-stream water users of activities via posted flyers.
01/08/10: Interceptor trench completed, including liner installation and insulating blanket coverage.
01/11: START collected co-located water samples with PRP cleanup contractor. Analytical results are reasonably consistent with PRP sample data.
01/14: Additional monitoring trenches installed. One additional recovery hole dug.
02/01: 3-4' of additional snow on-site; many monitoring wells iced up.
02/02:   PRP contractor recovered approximately 1,500 gals of product/water mixture into a vac truck. Another recovery hole was excavated, which by mid-day was producing gas/water with a very strong gas odor. Downstream boom frozen in.

March 2010

PRP cleanup contractor(s) continue to recover free product from the various wells and trenches, constructed in the wetlands, between the spill site and the river channel. The cleanup contractor reports measuring up to five inches (5”) of free product in various monitoring wells as well as elevated PID readings at various monitoring stations.  Dissolved phase product continues to be detected in the river.  Due to ice cover, it cannot be determined if a sheen or product is present.

April 2010

Contaminated water recovery continues. A meeting was held with interested parties on 4/13/10 to discuss issues related to spring runoff and high water potentially inundating the Site. The OSC suggested sandbagging the Site to protect it from the river as a first step. Clean upcontractor collected soil gas data for bioremediation proposal.

April 2011

After another winter, the gasoline continues to bleed out of the bedrock. The Site appeared abandoned, with trash all around. The interceptor trench needs to be maintained, the sand bag berm needs to be rebuilt, and contaminated water needs to be pumped out of the recovery holes weekly. Sampling has to be completed bi-weekly, and the PRP contractor needs to provide weekly reports - the last one received was dated 3/30/11. Photographs of Site conditions were taken. USFS personnel are considering revoking the special use permit. EPA is considering issuing a violation notice pursuant to the cleanup order. EPA is also considering federalization of the Site. At a minimum, START will put together a design for an automated pump and treat system to be installed this spring or summer. PRP contractors are scrambling to comply after receipt of an email from OSC.

December 2011

PRP consultant and cleanup contractor conducted pumping of contaminated water through the summer, approximately 1,000 gallons per week. Bi-weekly water samples were also collected, the results of which indicate that contaminant levels are decreasing. MW-1 which is on the Hwy 160 shoulder, was found to contain water and is now being sampled monthly during the winter sampling schedule. Contaminant levels remain relatively high. On December 16, 2011, one additional monitoring well was installed on the Hwy 160 shoulder.  The other planned well has been installed.

May 2012
Bioremediation plan to include use of oxygen has been submitted by PRP consultant, and reviewed by all parties, with comments sent back to PRP. Currently awaiting plan resubmittal. Meanwhile, contaminated water continues to be pumped out of the recovery holes on a weekly basis.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

See above

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

Administrative Order pursuant to Section 311(c) of the Clean Water Act issued to J C Hunt Trucking on April 19, 2010

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal

gas/water     500 gal 001334768 Arvada TreatmentCtr LLC

gas/water 1,500 gal 001334763      "              "

gas/water 1,500 gal 001334765      "              "

gas/water many frac   tanks NA Air stripping Alamosa WWTP

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
• PRP will continue coordinating plans and activities with representatives of CDOT, CSP, USFS, BLM and EPA/8 OSC.
• Cleanup contractor will continue to maintain the sand bg berm around the oil spill Site in the wetlands to protect it from the river flow and to isolate the contaminated groundwater as much as possible.
• Cleanup contractor will continue recovery of product from constructed recovery wells and trenches.
• Cleanup contractor(s) will perform maintenance on all booms.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
EPA/8 OSC will continue oversight of PRP-lead cleanup activities pursuant to the 311(c) Order. Awaiting re-submittal of Bioremediation Pilot Project Plan.

2.2.2 Issues

PRP contractor initiated inquiry regarding bioremediation. OSC provided information regarding the NCP and the NCP Product Schedule. PRP contractor submitted request to bioremediate the Site. Partial activation of RRT determined that the request was premature. PRP was provided copy of RCP Annex 9 on 4/13/10, as they expressed continuing interest in pursuing bioremediation.

PRP consultant has submitted a plan for a Bioremediation Pilot Test to EPA for review. The approximately one month test will utilize oxygen from a dewar, two oxygen injection wells, and numerous additional monitoring wells. As proposed, oxygen may enhance natural biodegradation and/or oxidation of the contaminants on Site. The plan is to treat the wetlands at the base of the road slope. Partial activation of the RRT has been initiated with a conference call that occurred on 12/20/11. EPA and others have reviewed the pilot plan and submitted comments to the PRP consultants. Currently awaiting re-submittal of the plan.

2.3 Logistics Section