On 13 October 2014, a spill of crude oil occurred from a 20 inch pipeline owned by Mid-Valley Pipeline located near Mooringsport, LA.  Sunoco Logistics owns 91% of Mid Valley Pipeline and is the designated Responsible Party (RP). Sunoco first reported to the NRC a drop in pressure in the pipeline at approximately 8:30am on 13 October and remotely blocked in the pipeline.  They sent crews to the field and discovered the leak at approximately 11:30am.  The crude oil entered into the Miller Branch Creek of the Tete Bayou which feeds into Caddo Lake.  Sunoco early estimates of volume spilled based on topographical "drain down" was 4,000 barrels (bbls). After refill and restart of the pipeline on 26 October Sunoco engineers have now calculated a new release volume of 4509 bbls. 

 1.1.2 Site Description

The spill origin is located near a high voltage electrical transmission line right of way approximately .4 miles west of Highway 169 south of Mooringsport, LA. Latitude: 32.652854° North, Longitude 93.981928° West.  After entering Miller Branch Creek crude oil flowed downstream to the northwest as it approached Caddo Lake. The spill pathway distance between the origin and the most downstream containment boom is approximately 4.1 miles. The stream distance between the most downstream containment boom and Caddo Lake is approximately 0.42 miles.

1.1.2.1 Location

The Site is located near Mooringsport, LA , Latitude: 32.652854° North, Longitude 93.981928° West.

 Approximately 4500 barrels of crude oil was discharged into Miller Branch Creek and Tete Bayou. The oil is within 0.4 miles of Caddo Lake.  Caddo Lake is a navigable water.  Two residences adjacent to the spill pathway were voluntarily evacuated. Polrep 1 stated three residences were voluntarily evacuated, the correct number was two residences. All residents are back in their homes at this time.

 On 13 October 2014 at 2020 hours, On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) William Rhotenberry and EPA’s Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) initiated an  assessment of the incident.

During the initial assessment, crude oil was observed in Miller Branch Creek near a bridge located on Caddo Parish Road 121: Latitude: 32.655381° North, Longitude 93.989273 West. The RP and their OSRO, Oil Mop, Inc.(OMI) were utilizing a vacuum truck to recover free standing oil which was then transported to frac tanks staged on Hereford Road. The RP and OMI reported they had contained the crude oil approximately 0.5 miles upstream of Caddo Lake.

During the period of 23 October through 28 October 2014, the RP increased personnel to a total of 457.  This number includes personnel from Sunoco Logistics, Walker Hill Environmental, Conestoga Rovers & Associates, OMI, Garner Environmental Services, ISI Solutions, Inc., and The Response Group (TRG).  

Approximately 15 Federal/State/Local personnel are on site monitoring operations. U.S. Fish and Wildlife has demobed from the spill but can be recalled if needed. Current wildlife efforts include 25 animals captured, 24 cleaned and 19 released.  465 animals (mostly fish) have been found dead.

The majority of free floating oil has been removed from the spill pathway.  There are still isolated pockets of free oil and some areas with heavily oiled banks which will require flushing/washing to remove the remaining recoverable oil.  Oil collection is now being conducted mostly by hand using absobent pads.  Small tracked vehicles called "Morookas" are also being used to recover pockets of oil within the impacted creek/bayou.  Oiled debris removal activities continue.
 
A large "semi permanent" underflow dam has been installed on the south side of the Hereford Road bridge.  All previously installed underflow dams between the spill point and the new dam have been removed to aid in the flushing process. The RP made arrangements with a local landowner to utilize a private pond as the source of their water for flushing.  

A Weather Contingency Plan was created and approved by Unified Command on 25 October.  The plan calls for the booming of all operational drinking water intakes, environmentally sensitive areas and the staging of extra resources for immediate deployment in the event that a heavy rain results in oil impacting Caddo Lake. The plan was activated on 27 October in preparation for a rain event.  The precipitation on 28 October was very light and there continue to be no oil impacts to Caddo Lake.   

The damaged section of the pipeline has been removed and repaired.  The pipeline underwent hydrostatic testing and was refilled and became operational on Sunday 26 October.  All repairs and restart operations were conducted under the supervision of PHMSA.  

Approximately 2,987 barrels of oil have been recovered as of 28 October. 2,647 barrels of recovered oil have been transported to Sunoco's Haynesville Station for recycling. Approximately 239 barrels of oily liquid has been recovered. The oily liquid will be transported to the FCC facility in Kilgore, TX for recycling.  Approximately 820 cubic yards of oil impacted soil has been removed from the release site/spill origin. Approximately 439 cubic yards of oily debris has been removed. All waste streams are currently being staged on site pending disposal.

The Region 5 office of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in Tyler, as well as the Texas Parks and Wildlife are being updated on spill response activities due to the fact that Caddo Lake is located within their jurisdiction.