U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Greene County Spill - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VII
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Subject:
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POLREP #2
Progress
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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9/23/2012
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Reporting Period:
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09/16-23/12
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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 over which the oil travelled, a small deeply incised tributary, and several miles of the main stem of the North Raccoon River. Most of the riparian areas are heavily wooded and quite inaccessible via normal forms of mechanical transportation. The river is shallow and the channel braided due to lack of rain and low flow conditions.
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, Greene County, 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 the EPA and IDNR as to the 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
Note: p/ease refer to POLREP #1 (Initial POLREP) for site operations that occurred during the previous reporting period.
9/16 - 9/18, 2012
Hydroclean and a sub contractor, Haz-Mat Response, Inc., worked the spill from Sunday, September 16, through the morning of the September 18, with 21 people and a considerable amount of equipment. As of approximately 1200 hours on September 18, following a meeting with the Kriegers, in which there was still no resolution regarding insurance payment of cleanup costs, all contractors walked off the site and pulled their equipment with the exception of the boom. IDNR notified the EPA that they would prefer for the EPA to federalize the response action and assume the lead agency role. As a result, OSC Todd Campbell activated the EPA R7 ERRS contractor and the R7 START contractor as well as a second OSC, Susan Fisher. By the time all were on-site it was after dark so active response actions were started again at 0800 on Wednesday, September 19, with the EPA responders. Currently, there are 13 ERRS personnel, one vac truck, multiple boats, five UTVs and one amphibious tracked response vehicle on-site. Boom has been placed in four different locations and the remaining areas of the river have been almost all reconned with regard to presence of oil and the degree of oiling in the different areas. USFWS representative Mike Coffey has enlisted the help of the state resource trustee to assist with the relocation of some pockets of minnows and the placement of animal hazing devices to keep waterflow out of oiled areas. In the morning, crews will continue hand removal operations in the river bed using pads and sock boom to retrieve small pockets of oil from the river. There is still some sheening and some visible stringers in the vicinity of the old railroad bridge turned bike trail, but the majority of the material remaining is on the shoreline or clinging to rootballs and old snags. The EPA contractors recovered 300 gallons of oil/water mixture today with a drum skimmer.
9/19 - 23, 2012
EPA contractors have continued hand removal of oiled areas. The area of the river from Henderson Boy Scout Park to the release point was reconned by EPA and US Fish and Wildlife. One oiled location was located adjacent to an endangered Topeka Shiner habitat. Under the direct supervision of US Fish and Wildlife the location was successfully cleaned up without disturbing the habitat area. The majority of the river from the Quaker bridge to Henderson park has been cleaned, work will continue upstream next week.
Jefferson waste water treatment gave permission for disposal of decant water collected during skimming operations. Plans are being made to remove contaminated soil excavated at the release point. A composite sample has been collected and sent for analysis. EPA anticipates disposing of soil at the Park West Landfill in Perry, IA.
Current 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 |
TBD |
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TBD |
subtitle D |
| used oil |
water |
300 gallons |
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TBD |
TBD |
| used oil |
solid waste |
TBD |
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TBD |
subtitle D |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Continue to cleanup oil from the streambed, tend the boom sets and remove oil from the containment booms as it gets trapped. Remove areas of contaminated soil and sphagsorb from the gravel beds and coordinate disposal issues/plans vith IDNR.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Get personnel in the water to continue hand cleaning pockets of oil that are caught in bends, strainers and bank debris/vegetation. Monitor boom sets to maximize containment of what little product is still in the water column and collect it as needed.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Continue to recon inaccessible reaches of the river to make sure all pockets of product have been identified and prioritized to ensure complete removal of visible oil pockets from the river.
2.2.2 Issues
- RP insurance policy
- Waste still on-site that was generated by RP contractors while they were still under contract with the RP
- Broken driveway at the spill origin that is to be repaired by the RPs contractors
- Disposal coordination
- Physical accessibility to long stretches of the river
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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
There is currently no safety officer on-site. Both ERRS and START have HASP that they have written and there is a daily safety meeting every morning where safe work practices are reviewed and discussed. The OSC is technically in charge of safety, but on an EPA job all personnel have a responsibility to work in a safe manner and watch out for the safety of others around them.
2.5.2 Liaison Officer
n/a
2.5.3 Information Officer
The EPA Public Information Officer (PIO) is David Bryan. Mr. Bryan coordinated with IDNR PIO Kevin Baskins on the need for a press release and also fielded questions from the press as they related to project in consultation with the OSC.
(913) 551-7433
bryan.david@epa.gov
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
The EPA is coordinating with IDNR and USFWS. A daily briefing/update will be held between the two cooperating agencies daily at 1600 hours.
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
IDNR
USFWS
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4. Personnel On Site
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13 people from EPA ERRS Contractor
1 START
1 USFWS
2 OSCs
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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 or more often as situation dictates.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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none
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