|
|
|
|
Site Number: |
Z0D6 |
|
Contract Number: |
|
|
D.O. Number: |
|
|
Action Memo Date: |
|
|
Response Authority: |
OPA |
|
Response Type: |
Emergency |
|
Response Lead: |
EPA |
|
Incident Category: |
Removal Assessment |
|
NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
|
Operable Unit: |
|
|
Mobilization Date: |
|
|
Start Date: |
|
|
Demob Date: |
|
|
Completion Date: |
|
|
CERCLIS ID: |
|
|
RCRIS ID: |
|
|
ERNS No.: |
|
|
State Notification: |
|
|
FPN#: |
E12006 |
|
Reimbursable Account #: |
|
1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency response/removal site investigation to an oil discharge to navigable waters of the U.S..
1.1.2 Site Description
On Friday, 30 December 2011, petroleum sheen was observed near the east shoreline of the Clearwater River in Orofino, Idaho. The sheen was observed as blooms or bubbles emanating in the river several feet out from the water's edge. The source of the discharge was not known. There had been no recently reported spills that could be the source of the discharge.
The Clearwater River is a navigable water of the U.S.. It empties into the Snake River near Lewiston, Idaho.
The land adjacent to the impacted river bank is owned by private parties and Clearwater County. A nearby gasoline and diesel cardlock distribution facility is owned by Atkinson Distributing, Inc., approximately 140 feet from the river bank and the seep location. Diesel and gasoline are stored on-site in above ground storage tanks. The facility is normally un-manned. Underground lines from the tanks service a nearby card-lock pump island.
Sheen on the Clearwater River from the seep had been periodically observed from December 30, 2011 through March 15, 2012. Rising river level since then has submerged the seep location, and it has not recently been observed.
1.1.2.1 Location
The site is located in the town of Orofino, Clearwater County, Idaho. The site is also located within the boundaries of the Nez Perce Reservation.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The discharge is emanating along an approximately 50 foot segment of the bed and bank of the Clearwater River. Petroleum sheen is observed intermittently in the river along this section. When the river level is low, exposing the bank and edge of the river bed, sheen is observed on the river bed through this section.
Access to the affected segment of the Clearwater River and adjoining shoreline is unrestricted. The river is used for a wide variety of recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and swimming, and there are public water intakes located downstream from the site.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Refer to POLREP #1 for site investigation activities and assessment results prior to January 7, 2012.
On 1/7/2012, Atkinson Distributing and their contractor completed tightness testing of four underground lines that run from the tank farm to the pump island. All four lines reportedly held pressure, indicating that the lines were not leaking at the time of the test.
On 1/12/2012, the Nez Perce Tribe received laboratory analytical results of three soil samples taken from 10 to 12 foot depth along a 38 foot test trench that had been dug directly west (river side) of the Atkinson facility on 12/31/11. The results showed elevated concentrations of BTEX constituents that, according to the laboratory chemist, resembled un-weathered gasoline.
On 1/20/2012, the Nez Perce Tribe received laboratory analytical results of river surface water and sediment samples collected on January 5 and 6 from the discharge location. Results show high concentrations of BTEX in water (20,200 ug/L benzene) and petroleum in sediments (12,000 mg/kg gasoline, 1,000 mg/kg diesel, and 100 mg/kg lube oil).
On 1/31/2012, OSC Weigel met on site with representative from Brown and Caldwell, a contractor working for the Idaho Petroleum Storage Tank Fund, who indicated they are insurer of the tanks and delivery system at the Atkinson Distributing facility, to visually inspect the site and review proposed monitoring well locations.
On 2/9&10/2012, Brown and Caldwell installed three monitoring wells on Atkinson Distributing property; two wells on the river side of the pump island and underground piping at the facility, and one well on the opposite (presumed upgradient) side of the pump island. When Brown and Caldwell finally came back to monitor the wells on 4/12/2012, they showed close to 1 foot of free product on groundwater in the two river-side wells (0.7 and 0.9 feet in MW-2 and MW-3, respectively).
On 3/15/2012, Nez Perce tribal personnel, at the direction of the OSC and in accordance with a Pollution Removal Funding Authorization (PRFA), conducted another round of river sediment and water quality samples to better characterize the nature of the seep and extent of contamination along the river's edge. They dug 10 shallow soil pits on the exposed river bed spaced 4 ft apart, 6-7 inches deep, from which they collected sediment samples. Analytical results show at least 32 linear feet of river sediments impacted with high concentrations of gasoline constituents, including up to 20,000 ppm benzene and 38,000 ppm toluene.
On 4/9/2012, OSC Weigel visited the site and met with Clearwater County and Nez Perce tribal personnel to discuss site history and investigation in the area of historical USTs on County property in the vicinity. The County agreed to conduct several excavations to investigate whether there were any unaccounted for USTs in the area or obvious subsurface contamination.
On 4/12/2012, the Nez Perce Tribe, under direction from the OSC and in accordance with a PRFA, oversaw excavation of two test pits by Clearwater County personnel, using a County excavator. The test pits did not identify unaccounted for USTs on the County property, and PID screening of excavated soils in the two pits (15 and 10 feet deep) did not show any indication of petroleum contamination coming from that portion of the property that could be contributing to the seep on the Clearwater River.
On 5/1/2012, OSC Weigel visited the site with the EPA START contractor, and met with Nez Perce Tribe, and Brown and Caldwell representative. The START contractor collected an LNAPL sample from MW-2 on the Atkinson property, and collected samples from each of the dispensers at the Atkinson pump island. Samples were sent to the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Lab for comparison analysis. The lab's conclusion, received in a report dated 5/4/2012, is that the LNAPL sample from MW-2 is a match, or is derived from a common source of petroleum oil as the sample from one of the dispensers at the Atkinson facility. The lab also compared the LNAPL sample from MW-2 with samples that had earlier been submitted from the seep location at the Clearwater River. The results were inconclusive; i.e., did not show a match, and did not rule out a match.
On 5/21/2012, OSC Weigel received an Initial Site Characterization Report from the PRP's contractor; Brown and Caldwell. EPA is presently reviewing the report.
|
|
|
|
2.1.1 Narrative
Intermittent sheen on the Clearwater River water and exposed sediments were observed at the site from December 30, 2011 through March 15, 2012. With higher water levels in the river, the seep location is now submerged and sheen is not visible. EPA, Brown and Caldwell (PRP contractor), Nez Perce Tribe, and Clearwater County have to date coordinated a number of site investigation activities. Full characterization of the petroleum plume that is impacting the Clearwater River has not been completed. Brown and Caldwell has recently submitted an Initial Site Characterization Report that does not provide sufficient information to identify and evaluate remediation options.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
Refer to Section 1.1.3 for a summary of site investigation actions to date. EPA, in coordination with the Nez Perce Tribe, is presently reviewing data and developing a work plan for continued site investigation necessary to fully characterize the petroleum plume and identify and evaluate cleanup options.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The only identified PRP to date is Atkinson Distributing, Inc.. Petroleum from their facility is impacting groundwater at the site, approximately 140 feet from the seep location at the Clearwater River. On 1/6/212, the OSC provided to Gary Cantrell, owner of Atkinson, a Notice of Federal Interest (NOFI), identifying Atkinson as the suspected source of the release and encouraging them to take appropriate removal actions. A signed return of the NOFI was never received by the OSC. The NOFI was re-sent on 4/12/2012, with a request that it be signed and returned, but still has not been acknowledged. Atkinson, to date, has not acknowledged responsibility for the discharge to the Clearwater River nor taken sufficient action to effectively mitigate the discharge.
|
