U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Midwest Generation Joliet Station, Des Plaines River Oil Spill - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V
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Subject:
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POLREP #1
Initial: Oil Discharge Secured, Cleanup Underway
Midwest Generation Joliet Station, Des Plaines River Oil Spill
E13503
Joliet, IL
Latitude: 41.4796452 Longitude: -88.1457137
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To:
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Richard Karl, U.S. EPA
FEMA R5 Watch, FEMA
PolRep Distribution, USGC, Coast Guard
Patrick Ryan, Coast Guard
PolRep Distribution, USGC, Coast Guard
John Glover, U.S. EPA
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From:
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Ramon Mendoza, OSC
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Date:
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12/11/2012
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Reporting Period:
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12/7/2012 - 12/10/2012
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
Z5M5 |
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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: |
12/7/2012 |
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Start Date: |
12/7/2012 |
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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#: |
E13503 |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency Response -- Discharge of oil sheen to a navigable waterway (Des Plaines River)
1.1.2 Site Description
The Site is located in a mixed commercial/industrial area of Joliet, Illinois. The most likely source of the oil spill is the Midwest Generation Generation Joliet Station , located at 1800 Channahon Road in Joliet, Illinois. Joliet Station is located on the Des Plaines River. The geographic coordinates of Joliet Station discharge outfall are approximately 41°29'36.61" north latitude and 88° 7'23.32" west longitude. The Midwest Generation discharge outfall is approximately 6.65 miles upstream from Interstate I-55 and approximately 1.5 miles upstream from the Hollywood Casino. Adjacent to Midwest Generation to the east and downstream is Caterpillar, Inc.
1.1.2.1 Location
See Site Description.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
A maximum of 1,400 gallons of mineral oil was released from a Midwest Generation turbine oil cooler on Thursday, December 6, 2012. An unknown portion of this release entered the Des Plaines River and was reported downstream by Caterpillar, Inc. and Hollywood Casino. The other unknown portion of the oil spill was released into the settling ponds which also has an outfall to the Des Plaines River
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
On Dec 6, 2012 at 4:23 pm the Caterpillar Inc. Company reported an oil sheen on the Des Plaines River adjacent to their property located at 2200 Channahon Road in Joliet IL (NRC 1032523).
EPA OSC responded on Dec.7 morning and observed an oil sheen plume upstream and downstream of Caterpillar on the Des Plaines River. The EPA OSC suspected that the oil sheen was accumulating at the Hollywood Casino (Casino, 777 Hollywood Blvd.) about a 3/4 mile downstream of Caterpillar. A Casino representative reported the oil sheen to the NRC (# 1032602). After meeting with the Casino representative and inspecting oil sheen trapped at the Casino, the The OSC determined that oil sheen was recoverable and so ERRS and START were activated and mobilized to the incident, arriving at about 5:30pm. An account for $20k was opened under the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.
At 6:30pm Dec. 7, EPA OSC was diverted to the Midwest Generation Joliet Power Station (1800 Channahon Road , upstream of Caterpillar and the Casino). Midwest had reported an oil Spill of 1400 gallons (NRC#s 1032620, 1032656) .U.S. EPA and START met with representatives from Midwest Generation at the Midwest Generation, Joliet Station. Midwest Generation representatives explained that a maximum of 1,400 gallons of mineral oil leaked from a 25-foot tall turbine oil cooler inside the Station. The oil leaked into both the plant's cascading pond settling system and the plant's discharge outfall to the Des Plaines River. Midwest Generation first observed sheen in Pond 3 of the plant's cascading pond settling system and in the plant's water intake channel off the Des Plaines River, where it was believed that sheen from the plant's discharge channel had recirculated upstream. The turbine system from which the oil had leaked was taken off-line. Midwest Generation informed EPA that SET was hired to perform cleanup activities on the Des Plaines River beginning 12/8/2012.
EPA OSC determined that Midwest Generation was the most likely source of the oil discharges into the Des Plaines River. The EPA OSC issued Midwest Generation a Notice Violation under the Oil Pollution Act. Midwest cooperated and ordered their cleanup contractor (SET) to mobilize additional resources. Midwest Generation provided EPA and START with a sample of the mineral oil from an on-site tank. In addition, OSC requested and received permission from Midwest to collect surface water sample from Pond 3 of Midwest Generation's cascading pond settling system where sheen was observed at the water's edge. The sample was collected at about 8:15pm (Dec. 7) and Midwest Generation collected a split sample
Since a potential responsible party was found. EPA OSC ordered his cleanup contractor (ERRS) to stand down. EPA's role is now to oversee the cleanup by Midwest Generation and its contractor. Cleanup on the Des Plaines river will commence on Dec. 8.
Based on an initial search, at this time, EPA found no drinking water intakes within 11 miles downstream of the Midwest Generation Joliet Station.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
See Section 2.1.2 for more information.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date.
12/8/2012 - EPA OSC told Midwest Generation and SET that the objective of the response action was to contain the source of the oil discharge at the Midwest Generation Station, cleanup the oil sheen at the Casino and survey the river downstream to determine if there are other areas where the oil sheen had collected so it can be recovered.
Two rows of absorbent boom were deployed by SET, at the effluent channel at the Midwest Generation Joliet Station. to collect and capture any oil sheen that may be discharged from the Station. No oil was observed by EPA and START being discharged from the Station at this time. Absorbent booms were deployed at the Casino to begin the process of containment and recovery of the oil sheen.
U.S. EPA, START, Midwest Generation, and SET conducted a reconnaissance on the Des Plaines River from I-55 to the Midwest Generators discharge outfall, an approximately 6.6 mile stretch of River. START logged locations where oil sheen had been collecting with a GPS device. In addition to the Casino, there were four other locations down river of the Station where oil sheen could be collected and recovered. The first area of significant sheen was observed approximately 5.4 miles downstream of the Midwest Generators discharge outfall. SET installed containment and/or absorbent boom at all aforementioned locations where sheen was heaviest and could be collected. After booms was deployed, SET collected sheen with absorbent pads.
EPA START and Midwest collected samples of the oil sheen at the Casino.
By the end of the day EPA OSC believed that the goal to contain the oil spill and initiate recovery was successfull. No significant oil sheen or contaminated areas were found beyond 5.4 river miles downstream of the Midwest Generation Power Station.
No smell of oil sheen was detected by EPA or response personnel in any areas.
Media was not present.
12/9/2012 Midwest Generation and its SET contractors continued to recover the oil sheen using absorbent boom, hard boom and and absorbent pads in areas of significant oil sheen in the Des Plaines River in all locations as found the previous day. There are 5 areas downriver of the Midwest Station which are being cleaned up.
12/10/2012 - U.S. EPA OSC conducted an assessment of the progress of the cleanup on the River. The assessment was conducted with Midwest and SET personnel. EPA OSC found three areas (identified during the survey on 12/8) downstream of the Midwest Generation Joliet Station to be clean. EPA found less oil sheen but requested continued cleanup at the Casino and one location down stream (of Casino).
EPA START mailed/submitted the oil samples to the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Lab for comparative analysis.
Note: OSC , SET, and Midwest Generation personnel observed oil sheen on the river as barges went by. This oil looks more weathered than the oil from the Joliet Plant and may be coming from historical oil trapped in the sediment of the river in this area.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
U.S. EPA issued a Notice of Federal Interest to Midwest Generation representatives on December 7, 2012. Midwest Generation signed the Notice on December 7, 2012.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
Three of five areas downstream of the Midwest Generation Joliet Station contaminated with oil sheen have been cleaned up.
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
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Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
See Section 2.2.1.1
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Midwest Generation contractor SET will continue cleanup of the Casino and one other area downstream of the Station. EPA will inspect the area on 12/12/2012.
Midwest Generation will concentrated on cleaning up the pond settling system and repair its turbine oil cooling system at the Station after cleanup of the River is complete. They hope to complete this by Dec. 21.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
2.2.2 Issues
None. There is no media interest for this site at this time.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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N/A
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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
EPA identified the following as a main safety issues at the Site:
- Working alongside floating barges with where undercurrent is present
- Working in cold weather/winter conditions.
- Working next to a flowing body of water
2.5.2 Liaison Officer
None
2.5.3 Information Officer
None
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
None
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
U.S. Coast Guard
Illinois EPA
FEMA
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4. Personnel On Site
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The following numbers of personnel were on-site during the reporting period:
U.S. EPA - 1
START - 1
ERRS - 1 (Deactivated, on standby)
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5. Definition of Terms
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ERRS - Emergency and Rapid Response Services
FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency
NRC - National Response Center
OSC - On-Scene Coordinator
PRP - Potentially Responsible Party
START - Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team
EPA - United States Environmental Protection Agency
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6. Additional sources of information
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
No information available at this time.
6.2 Reporting Schedule
No information available at this time.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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