The EPA dispatched EPA OSC Mike McAteer, and START-3 contractors to an oil spill near Quitman, Texas on July 4, 2010.  Atlas Operating, LLC, a subsidiary of Pioneer Exploration is the Responsible Party (RP).  On July 4, 2010, at approximately 0900 oil was discovered on the ground near the Atlas Operating, LLC Central Battery Number 6 [Also reported as Battery 8 as per the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC)]  Local law enforcement and emergency personnel were notified along with the National Response Center (NRC #946531).  At the time of the NRC notification, the PRP could not be reached.  At approximately 1200 on July 4, 2010, an Atlas Operating employee was notified by local law enforcement officials and mobilized to the site to assess the situation and shut down the oil production operation.  Initially, the oil on the ground was believed to be due to a ruptured buried gathering line, but it was later determined that it was a 3 inch transfer line that transferred the crude oil from Tank Battery 6 where it is separated from the brine water to Tank Battery 7 where the crude oil is stored until it is sold.  The estimated spill volume according to Atlas Operating is 15 barrels.  The oil impacted surface and subsurface soil and had a potential to impact an intermittent creek.  The spill was stopped approximately 700 feet from an intermittent creek which flows into Myrtle Spring Branch which eventually flows into the Sabine River, which eventually flows into the Misissippi River. The NRC was notified on July 4, 2010 (NRC # 946531) at 0900.  A representative from the RRC of Texas was onsite prior to EPA or START-3 arrival.

START-3 conducted a site follow-up visit on July 8, 2010.  At the time of the site follow-up visit, the RP was in the process of conducting cleanup activities.  The majority of the oil contaminated soil had been placed in two roll off containers, which has been covered with plastic sheeting.  The area around the buried transfer line has been excavated, the break in the line has been clamped, and the area around the excavation has been fenced in with orange safety fence.  During the site follow-up visit, the RP representative stated that they would remove the remaining oil contaminated soil and vegetation along the spill pathway and combine with an existing oil contaminated soil stockpile that can be used for the tank battery boom maintenance in accordance with the RRC of Texas. 

Once the remainder of the oil contaminated soil and vegetation has been removed, the RP will bring in topsoil for those excavated areas.  In addition, the RP has plans to replace the ruptured steel line with a fiberglass line before oil production for that area is resumed.  The RP also stated that the oil contaminated soil in the two roll off containers will be taken to the Paris Waste Management Landfill in accordance with the RRC of Texas.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

Response activities conducted by the RP will be under the direction of the RRC.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

2.2.2 Issues

Additional oil spills have occurred within the last 6 months at this same tank battery.  EPA is in the process of determining if a SPCC inspection was conducted at this tank battery in February, 2010.