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" is 4,000 barrels (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 4000 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 is two residences.

 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 16 October through 22 October 2014, the RP increased personnel to a total of 300.  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 16 Federal/State/Local personnel are on site monitoring operations. Additional federal assets deployed to the spill include 1 EPA Planning Section Chief (PSC) and 2 additional START Contractors.  U.S. Fish and Wildlife has demobed from the spill but can be recalled if needed. Current wildlife efforts include 11 animals captured and cleaned and 2 released.  432 animals (mostly fish) have been found dead.

Crews used vacuum trucks at 5 collection points to recover crude oil from the impacted watershed: Upstream Collection Point 1 (UCP1); Upstream Collection Point 2 (UCP2);Midstream Collection Point 1(MCP1); Downstream Collection Point 1(DCP 1); and Downstream Collection Point 2 (DCP2). UCP1 is located approximately 0.5 miles downstream of the spill origin. UCP2 is located approximately 1 mile downstream of the spill origin. MCP1 is located approximately 1.75 miles downstream of the spill origin. DCP1 and DCP2 are located at the intersection of the spill pathway and Hereford Road. The RP recovery team continued the removal of oil affected debris in the spill pathway. Additional underflow dams were installed at the new collection points. The RP retained access to a large private pond in the area, and constructed a water transfer system to assist in the flushing operations upstream of UCP1. Flushing operations utilizing the pond water and constructed transfer system will begin on 23 October. Vacuum truck operations continued at all collection points. All recovered oil/water was transported and transferred to frac tanks staged at the Hereford Road staging area. A Homeowner Re-Entry Plan and a Waste Management Plan were created and approved by Unified Command.  An Equipment Decon Plan and a Weather Contingency Plan are currently being created.

Unified Command implemented the Home Owner Re-Entry Plan for two residents that were evacuated during the emergency response. EPA START and Sunoco contractors conducted air monitoring around the perimeter of each resident's property and all VOC readings were non-detect. The Louisiana State Police informed the residents that the evacuation was over and they could return to their homes. One resident decided not to return to their home due to odors in the area.

On 19 October following the implementation of the Home Owner Re-Entry Plan, the Lousiana State Police transferred the SOSC authority to the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinating Official on site.

The damaged section of the pipeline has been removed and repairs made.  The pipeline is currently undergoing testing and will begin operations again under the direction of PHMSA. 

Approximately 2,870 barrels of oil have been recovered as of 22 October. 2,321 barrels of recovered oil have been transported to Sunoco's Haynesville Station for recycling. Approximately 220 barrels of oily liquid has been recovered. The oily liquid will be transported to the FCC facility in Kilgore, TX for recycling.  Approximately 460 cubic yards of oil impacted soil has been removed from the release site/spill origin. Approximately 180 cubic yards of oil impacted debris has been removed from the impacted creek area. All waste streams are currently being staged on site pending disposal.

During this period, EPA START calculated the actual distance of creek impacted, which is approximately 10 miles. The earlier estimate of 4 miles was created using a straight line from the spill origin to the mouth of Caddo Lake. 

The Region 5 office of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in Tyler was contacted due to the fact that Caddo Lake is located in their jurisdiction and TCEQ will be kept updated on all spill response activities.