Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Dossie Dews Powell #1 (FPN# E10630)
Mt. Holly, AR - EPA Region VI
POLREP #1
Initial / Final

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Dossie Dews Powell #1 (FPN# E10630) - Removal Polrep
Initial and Final Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VI

Subject:

POLREP #1
Initial / Final
Dossie Dews Powell #1 (FPN# E10630)

Mt. Holly, AR
Latitude: 33.3038900 Longitude: -92.9627620

To:

From:

Mark Hayes, Environmental Engineer, OSC

Date:

6/1/2010

Reporting Period:

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:	FPN E10630	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:		Start Date:
Demob Date:		Completion Date:
CERCLIS ID:		RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:
FPN#:	10630	Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Site Description

On the evening of May 19, 2010 EPA was notified by the National Response Center (NRC) of a oil well that was discharging large amounts of oil onto the ground. The oil well is located in the Salem Church Field near Mt. Holly, Union County, Arkansas. The well serviced a production faciity that consisted of 2-210 barrels (bbls) above ground storage tanks. On the morning of May 20, 2010 EPA arrived on scene to assess the extent of impacted area. A pit containing a large quantity of oil was also identified on the property. There was a visible breach on the containment berm of the pit.

1.1.1.1 Location

Salem Church Field near Mt. Holly, Union County, Arkansas

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Response Actions to Date

On May 20, 2010, EPA OSC Mark Hayes and EPA-START contractor Dana Beck arrived at the spill site and observed the conditions. Upon inspection, oil and water was visibly leaking from an opened end of the pit. The only filtration system was straw, no padding or boom was in place. Additionally, a trail of oil was visible from the well stretching down hill to the road and into the ditch. The RP had placed peat moss over the oil for absorption.

As a result of the inspection, OSC Hayes contacted PRP Dossie Dews and requested to meet as soon as possible. Mr. Dews met with OSC Hayes and discussed the situation. The following information was stated by Mr. Dews:

Vandals robbed the gauges from the well, thus resulting in the leak,
The opening in the pit firewall had already been there and was used as a way to drain the pit,
The Columbia County Sheriff's Department had been notified of the vandalism,
The gauge was replaced as soon as the previous was discovered missing,
Trees were cut in the past in order to filter the oil from the water as it exited the pit.

OSC Hayes asked the RP to conduct the following to minimize/mitigate pollution:

Re-build the pit containment/firewall until the pit can be closed,
Clean up the drainage pollution from the well leading to the road ditch,
Utilize absorbent pads and boom to minimize further contamination.

Arkansas Dept. of Environmental Quality Agent (ADEQ) Connery Salter recommended that the pit should be closed per state requirements as soon as feasibly possible.

On May 21, START Beck visited the facility and observed the RP had re-built the pit containment with a backhoe as well as remove the oil contamination from the well leading to the road.

A follow-up inspection by START Dana Beck on Thursday, May 27, 2010 revealed that all required remediation steps had taken place. The pit had been closed as well as all contaminated soil had been removed and disposed per recommendation.

No further action is expected at this time.

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

A Notice of Federal Intent (NOFI) was mailed via Certified Mail (#7009 0080 0000 3340 6769) to the following PRP on May 28, 2010:

Dossie Dews
1452 Dews Road
Mt. Holly, AR 71758

2.2 Planning Section

2.3 Logistics Section