U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Midwest Generation Joliet Station, Des Plaines River Oil Spill - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V
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Subject:
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POLREP #2
Progress: Oil sheen on the Des Plaines from Power Plant Cleaned Up, Source Cleanup Ongoing
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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12/14/2012
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Reporting Period:
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12/11-12/13/2012
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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.
Please see Polrep #1 for Response Actions Before 12/11/2012.
12/11-13- Midwest Generation contractor (SET) continued cleanup activities to recover the oil sheen on the Des Plaines River at the Casino and in Area #3 (See attached areal photo map). EPA inspected both areas on 12/13/2012 and found no more oil sheen and recommended that the absorbent oil booms be removed. The Casino was notified.
EPA also inspected Midwest cleanup of the Settling Pond #3 at the Power Station which is connected to an outfall (NPDES permitted) into the Des Plaines River. Solids in the pond contaminated with oil are being removed for disposal. Midwest Generation indicated that the cleanup should be completed by 12/14.
EPA OSC recommended that an additional absorbent boom be installed on the outfall of the pond to ensure control of any oil residuals when the Pond is put back in service. A containment boom and absorbent boom has been installed at the Plant's outfall channel to ensure no discharge into the Des Plaines River and will be maintained by SET until further notice from MIdwest Generation.
Overall, EPA OSC did not observe any oil sheen on the Des Plaines River, in any of the areas impacted.
No smell of oil sheen was detected by EPA or response personnel in any areas.
Media was not present.
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
All five areas on the Des Plaines River, downstream of the Midwest Generation Joliet Station (and that Station itself) contaminated with oil sheen have been cleaned up.
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
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 remove all booms deployed downstream of the Power Plant. In addition, SET will complete its cleanup of Settling Pond #3 and dispose of all contaminated waste in a permitted waste disposal facility by 12/14/12.
Midwest Generation plans to complete its repair of the turbine oil cooling system inside the Power Station and put the system back in service by 12/16. THey hope to find most of the reported 1400 gallons spilled in the turbine cooling system.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
EPA OSC will conduct a final inspection of the Midwest Generation Joliet Station by 12/21/12 to confirm cleanup is complete.
This case may be referred to the Illnios EPA for potential enforcement under the Clean Water Action for violations under the NPDES permit.
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
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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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