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Site Number: |
Z0D6 |
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Action Memo Date: |
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Response Authority: |
OPA |
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Response Type: |
Emergency |
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Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Assessment |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Mobilization Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
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FPN#: |
E12006 |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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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 or adjoining shoreline at the seep location has been observed and documented on at least six separate occasions from December 30, 2011 through July 30, 2012. Most recently, petroleum sheen and elevated photo-ionization detector (PID) readings were observed and documented on the adjoining shoreline of the Clearwater River by Nez Perce Tribal personnel on July 30, 2012.
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 and on the adjoining shoreline 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
See POLREPs #1 through #3 for site investigation activities and assessment results prior to May 23, 2012.
On July 24, 2012 Atkinson Distributing and their contractor conducted a line tightness test of a few of the underground lines that run from the tank farm to the pump island. A test had earlier been done January, 2012, and all tested lines had reportedly held pressure, indicating that the lines were not leaking at the time of the test. However, when the test was repeating in July on the unleaded and premium gasoline lines, they failed, indicating that they had been leaking. The unleaded gasoline line was excavated and removed.
On July 30, 2012 a contractor for Atkinson Distributing installed three additional monitoring wells downgradient of the known contamination and leaking pipe(s) at the cardlock facility (between the facility and the seep at the river). The wells are expected to be sampled on August 3, 2012 to evaluate if there is free phase product or contamination of groundwater, and evaluate groundwater flow direction. Three earlier wells were installed in February on the facility property. The two wells on the river side of the dispensors have free phase product in them. The one upgradient well is reportedly clean.
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2.1.1 Narrative
Intermittent sheen on the Clearwater River water and exposed sediments have been observed at the site from December 30, 2011 through July 30, 2012. 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 contamination from the Atkinson Distributing facility has not been completed.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
EPA, in coordination with the Nez Perce Tribe, is presently reviewing data and developing a work plan for site cleanup.
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.
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