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Site Number: |
B4C4 |
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Contract Number: |
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Action Memo Date: |
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Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Emergency |
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Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
9/3/2010 |
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Start Date: |
9/3/2010 |
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Demob Date: |
9/3/2010 |
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Completion Date: |
9/3/2010 |
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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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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency Response
1.1.2 Site Description
At approximately 0700hrs on 9/2/2010 Chambers County EMA discovered a brown sheen on the surface of Fosters Branch and Little Osanippa Creek off County Road 299 in Lanette, AL. The sheen was reported to ADEM who determined that the contaminant may have been used motor oil that was dumped off the roadside. ADEM reported the incident to the NRC at 1124hrs on 9/3/2010 and requested EPA assistance to respond for cleanup. EPA Telephone Duty dispatched R2 OSC Huyser with ERRS contractor, Environmental Restoration.
1.1.2.1 Location
On County Road 299 near Lanett, Alabama; Fosters Branch near 51st Ave and Little Osanippa Creek near County Road 187.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Potential oil contamination on surface water (further assessment determined that the material at the surface of the creeks was not oil)
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
OSC Huyser arrived at 1330hrs and conducted an initial assessment with the Chambers County EMA Director. The surface contaminants appeared to be more consistent with organic/algae material than with oil, but it was determined that the majority of the material had moved downstream and could only be inspected with a small boat.
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2.1.1 Narrative
ERRS contractor, Environmental Restoration, arrived at approximately 1600hrs and began working to clear an access route downstream through the brush near Fosters Branch. Small work boats were mobilized by subcontractor, SWS, and were en-route. Two light systems were mobilized for night operations and a traffic control crew was mobilized to provide safe operating conditions due to work in close proximity to the road with no shoulders. Lanette Police Department and Chambers County Emergency Services provided traffic control during initial operations while other crews were en-route.
OSC Huyser and the Chambers County EMA Director observed that a majority of the oil had passed downstream on both Fosters Branch and Little Osanippa Creek. Creek conditions and investigations upstream and downstream are described below:
Fosters Branch
The surface contaminants observed on Fosters Branch near County Road 299 appeared as floating imperfect 0.5-1" brown spots. Few were observed and it was relayed from Chambers County that there had been a greater density of material earlier in the day and the day before. A greater concentration was observed further downstream but was inaccessible due to heavy brush. The creek was approximately 5-15' wide, 1-3' deep, and had a surface flow of only 5ft/min. Residents reported that there were several beaver dams along the creek that caused regular flooding in the area. The downstream portion of the creek could be accessed at 0.25mi and 0.5mi from County Road 299; no like surface material was observed at either location. The upstream portion of the creek could be accessed at 0.16 miles from County Road 299, near a cleared lawn and a 10'-tall concrete culvert below an active railroad line 20' above the creek; no like surface material was found and no potential source was identified.
Little Osanippa Creek
The surface contaminants observed at Little Osanippa Creek near County Road 299 appeared as large semi-clear brown stripes running down the center of the creek surface and along the bank. When agitated, the surface material broke apart in a manner that was semi-consistent with bacteria or organic material, but exhibited some of the "flowing" characteristics attributed to oil sheens; one hypothesis was that oil could have been greatly oxidized (weathered). It was initially determined that a greater concentration of material would be found downstream and would provide conclusive evidence of whether the material was originally oil or bacteria. There were no access points to the downstream portion of the creek and heavy brush inhibited assessment on foot near the bank. The upstream portion could be traversed for a short distance along a recreational off-road vehicle path and a beaver dam was located
At approximately 1800, OSC Huyser discovered a third stream (found to be "Osanippa Creek") that was much wider than the first two creeks (approximately 10 to 30 feet) and had an active flowing surface; in a nearby area along the creek and in a large pool with no active flow, the same surface contaminants were observed. Since there had been no rain reported in the area since August 21, and since the pool where the surface contaminants were observed could not have flowed downstream, it was determined that the material was not oil. Also, ADEM provided an email to EPA with photographs of a prevoius site which showed surface contaminants of the same nature and which had been determined to result from creosote within a railroad bridge accross the water. OSC Huyser contacted ADEM and Chambers County EMA to report that the material was not oil and EPA would be demobilizing.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
All response actions ceased and crews were demobilized.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
N/A
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
N/A
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