Pollution/Situation Report Profile

(E13611) Exxon Pipeline Mayflower Arkansas Oil Spill
Mayflower, AR - EPA Region VI
POLREP #7
Progress Report

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
(E13611) Exxon Pipeline Mayflower Arkansas Oil Spill - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VI

Subject:

POLREP #7
Progress Report
(E13611) Exxon Pipeline Mayflower Arkansas Oil Spill

Mayflower, AR
Latitude: 34.9638070 Longitude: -92.4286530

To:

From:

William Rhotenberry, OSC

Date:

4/7/2013

Reporting Period:

04/05-04/07/2013

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:		Contract Number:
D.O. Number:		Action Memo Date:
Response Authority:	OPA	Response Type:	Emergency
Response Lead:	PRP	Incident Category:	Removal Assessment
NPL Status:	Non NPL	Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:	3/29/2013	Start Date:	3/29/2013
Demob Date:		Completion Date:
CERCLIS ID:		RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:	12713
FPN#:	E013611	Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

Transportation-Related: Pipeline Spill

1.1.2 Site Description

1.1.2.1 Location

The pipeline spill occurred in a residential neighborhood in Mayflower, Faulkner County, Arkansas (34.963807 Latitude, -92.428653 Longitude). Approximately 21 homes were evacuated in the neighborhood due to elevated VOC readings and due to the amount of oil present on the ground and in the street.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

The damaged pipeline released Wabassa heavy crude oil into the North Woods Subdivision. Crude oil then flowed west along N. Starlite Road, into a bar ditch adjacent to a Union Pacific Railroad line, into an unnamed creek, and into a tributary to a cove of Lake Conway. Lake Conway is a tributary to the Arkansas River. Local residents have been evacuated from 21 homes due to elevated levels of VOCs and benzene detected in the source area of the spill.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

The source was a Pegasus Line that connects Patoka, IL to Nederland, TX, approximately 850 miles long. The 20-inch pipeline has a capacity of 95,000 barrels per day. The pipeline is buried 24 inches deep with a distance of 18 miles between isolation valves. The pipeline release began Friday afternoon 29 March 2013. The break in the line was isolated and the pipeline stopped leaking oil at approximately 0300 hours 30 March 2013. The RP is estimating approximately 2,000 bbl of oil has been released.

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
April 05-April 07, 2013

The RP continued to conduct recovery operations in the three geographic divisions, Alpha, Bravo and Charlie. Minimal free liquid product remains in the environment. Alpha Division continued to remove impacted soil from the neighborhood. Approximately 95-98% percent of impacted soil has been removed from this area. Divisions Bravo and Charlie continue operations to remove oiled vegetation and impacted soil.

The RP has revised the estimated amount of oil released to be approximately 5,000 bbl.

The RP has increased their personnel and assets on site. The RP currently has 670 response personnel on site conducting the cleanup operation. The RP has approximately 18 vacuum trucks and 61 frac tanks on site. To date, the RP has deployed approximately 3,200 feet of hard boom and 30,260 feet of soft absorbent boom throughout the spill area and in Lake Conway. Approximately 27,828 bbl of oil and water have been recovered on site from vacuuming operations. The oil/water mixture has been placed into frac tanks. Approximately 32 Federal/State/Local personnel are currently on-site.

As of Sunday, approximately 82 roll-off boxes of contaminated debris have been transported from impacted areas.

EPA/START collected samples on Friday, April 5, from the pipeline at two locations (the pipeline break, and the Conway Pump Station). The samples will be sent to two labs for full analysis and fingerprinting.

EPA continues to post daily air monitoring data files and a summary report on the air monitoring to the ADEQ website.

At the request of the unified command, CTEH set up an air monitor inside the local elementary school that will run continuous air monitoring on school days from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm.

Unified Command met on Sunday and approved language on re-entry procedures for residents.

Unified Command conducted a media tour of the impacted areas on Sunday.

A press conference was conducted on Saturday at the Mayflower City Hall. The 4 principals of unified command gave brief statements, and then answered questions from reporters

Exxon is finishing construction of an access road behind the residential area to lessen activities on the residential streets.

Exxon has deployed two wood chippers for non-soiled vegetative debris to reduce waste.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

The Pegasus pipeline is operated by ExxonMobil Pipeline Company.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

*Waste Stream*	*Medium*	*Quantity*	*Manifest #*	*Treatment*	*Disposal*
Oil and Water		27,828 bbl

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

Continue recovery of pooled oil, Maintain air monitoring to identify VOC levels in the residential areas adjacent to the spill and evacuated areas.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

Continue oil recovery in heavily impacted areas. Continue air monitoring and sampling for VOCs. Monitor containment areas to prevent oil migration into Lake Conway.

Unified Command will schedule a tour for the NRDC representative of the impacted areas tomorrow.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

Continue oil recovery and air monitoring.

2.2.2 Issues

2.3 Logistics Section