U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Greene County Spill - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VII
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Subject:
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POLREP #1
Initial
Greene County Spill
Jefferson, IA
Latitude: 42.0125820 Longitude: -94.4030460
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To:
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From:
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Todd Campbell, OSC
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Date:
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9/16/2012
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Reporting Period:
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9/13-15/2012
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
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Contract Number: |
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D.O. Number: |
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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: |
PRP |
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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: |
9/14/2012 |
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Start Date: |
9/13/2012 |
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Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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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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FPN#: |
E12705 |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency Response
1.1.2 Site Description
The scene consists of a commercial greenhouse where the spill originated, a residential property where the oil travelled, a small deeply incised tributary and several miles of the main stem of the North Raccoon River. The riparian areas are heavily wooded and quite inaccessible. The river is shallow and braided due to lack of rain and low flows.
1.1.2.1 Location
The scene is located in and near Jeffereson, Greene County, Iowa. The lat/long coordinates of the spill origin are 42.012582 N by -94.403046 W. The oil spilled from an aboveground storage tank (AST) at Krieger Greenhouses and flowed south through a short drainage ditch where it entered the North Raccoon River. It then flowed east and slightly south approximately 10 river miles where it was intercepted by the final downstream containment booms.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
There is a primary threat to fish and wildlife that are in direct contact with spilled material in the spill pathway. Most importantly is the Federally protected Topeka Shiner (Notropis topeka). The next threat of significance is the presence of downstream water intakes which includes the city of Des Moines drinking water intake.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
There is a visible sheen and oil stringers visible downstream for nearly 10 river miles that was determined to originate from a leaking AST at the Krieger Greenhouses in Jefferson, Iowa.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
A fisherman reported an oil sheen on the North Raccoon River near Jefferson, Greene County, Iowa; at approximately 1200 noon CDT on September 13, 2012. At approximately 1550 hours, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) phoned the National Response Center (NRC) to report a mystery sheen on the same water body. The EPA Region 7 opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF) at 1630 hours following a conference call with IDNR indicating the extent of the spill and the need to address it before the oil impacted a downstream drinking water intake and the Topeka Shiner. Follow-up conversations with IDNR field staff out of the Atlantic, Iowa, field office indicated that they identified a potential source of the spill and a responsible party (RP). On-Scene Coordinator (OSC), Todd Campbell, spoke with IDNR Emergency Response Coordinator, Kathy Lee, who reported that the material in question is used oil, possibly as much as 5,000 gallons that leaked from an aboveground storage tank (AST) via a faulty valve (this was later elevated to possibly 15,000 gallons and Mr. Krieger has reportedly filed a police report claiming possible vandalism). The owner of the tank is Ernie Krieger of Krieger Greenhouses. Mr. Krieger accepts used oil from locals and local auto shops and burns it as a source of heat to keep his greenhouses warm during cold weather. Apparently early in the morning of September 13, 2012, the Kriegers realized there was a leak but did not notify anyone or attempt to rectify the problem because it was raining. IDNR had a temporary berm constructed and activated a state oil spill response organization (OSRO) under the OSLTF authority OSC Campbell had given them to deploy boom. There have been no reports of fish kills as of yet but the situation will continue to be monitored by USFWS and IDNR staff on the scene to monitor impacts to the Topeka Shiner population present in the river. Mr. Krieger has accepted responsibility for the spill and has retained the OSRO, Hydroclean, to continue cleanup so long as his insurance company is covering costs. Discussions have begun between IDNR and EPA as to next steps if the Kriegers are unable to continue response operations adequately. The EPA issued pollution response funding authorizations (PRFAs) to INDR and USFS for their technical assistance during the response.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
Hydroclean has 11 people and two vacuum trucks on the scene. Currently they have three strings of containment boom in place. In addition, they have placed sock boom, absorbent pads and multiple bags of sphagsorb in and around impacted areas. At the spill origin, they have excavated 75% of the impacted soil and continue to scrape and dig oiled soils. Plans were being made to construct containment areas at the culvert downstream from the greenhouse and another at the point where the tributary enters the river. Hydroclean was attempting to contract with additional contractors to increase the size of the crew in anticipation of handwork in the river, because access to much of the impacted river reach is tenuous at best.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
Potential RCRA and SPCC violations from the EPA and additional IDNR issues, all relating to the acceptance, storage and burning of used oil.
PRP= Krieger Greenhouses
Ernie Krieger
1608 Westwood Drive
Jefferson, Iowa
800.386.2948
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
| used oil |
soil |
up to 15,000 gallons |
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TBD |
subtitle D |
| used oil |
wate |
up to 15,000 gallons |
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pretreatment system in Des Moines |
WWTF |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Construct containment structures downstream of the spill origin at the culvert that passes under the road and at the point where the spill pathway hit the river.
Increase crew size to allow handwork within inaccessible areas of the river.
Closely monitor PRP funding through their insurance company to determine if and when the response lead from PRP changes to either state or Federal.
Get "eyes" on the stretches of river that cannot be seen from road and bridge crossings by either boat or air to determine if there are addional areas of the river that are holding spilled product that have not been identified yet.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
The RP plans to increase crew size to get personnel in the water to begin hand cleaning pockets of oil that are caught in bends, strainers and bank debris/vegetation.
The RP plans to construct additional containment structures at the spill scene in anticipation of rain on Monday September 17, 2012.
IDNR and the RP will monitor boom sets to maximize containment and minimize entrainment of product.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
IDNR will monitor RP response to ensure that cleanup continues in an efficient and expedient manner.
IDNR will recon inaccessible reaches of the river to make sure all pockets of product are being addressed.
2.2.2 Issues
RP insurance policy may have limits on coverage. If RP backs out of response, the EPA may need to take the lead.
Physical accessibility to long stretches of the river is difficult.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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Currently there are no significant logistical issues.
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2.4 Finance Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.5 Other Command Staff
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2.5.1 Safety Officer
Hydroclean is working directly for the RP and IDNR is the lead regulatory agency. All entities are currently working under their own health and safety (H&S) protocols and procedures until such time that the EPA should become the lead agency. If that occurrs, all entities would function under the the EPA H&S plan.
2.5.2 Liaison Officer
n/a
2.5.3 Information Officer
EPA Public Information Officer (PIO) is David Bryan
(913) 551-7433
bryan.david@epa.gov
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
Hydroclean is working for the RP and cleanup oversight is being conducted by the IDNR with technical assistance from the USFWS regarding habitat impacts from spill and cleanup efforts.
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
IDNR
USFWS
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4. Personnel On Site
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11 people from Hydroclean and subs
Alison Ganz IDNR
Mike Coffey USFWS
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5. Definition of Terms
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n/a
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6. Additional sources of information
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
www.epaosc.net/greenecountyspill
6.2 Reporting Schedule
Weekly
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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None
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