U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Popo Agie Discharge

Notices  Posted Category
Site Description 4/4/2019 01: Background

At approximately at 5:00 pm on April 2, 2019 the Lander Fire Department responded to a report of gas fumes coming from the Middle Popo Agie River upstream of the Main Street Bridge in Lander, Wyoming. The response team confirmed that a sheen existed on the surface of the river. The source of the sheen was tracked to a location in the river bed just south of Main Street.
Initial Response 4/4/2019 01: Background

The Lander Mayor, Fire Department, Police Department, City Works, State of Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WYDEQ), State Contractors, Fish and Wildlife, EPA, and EPA contractors all responded to the discharge. Containment boom was placed in the river by the Lander Fire Department at the point of the discharge and at a precautionary location several miles downstream.  An EPA Region 8 On-Scene Coordinator, ERRS and START arrived on-scene the morning of April 4.
Response Operations 4/4/2019 02: April 04, 2019

EPA and the State replaced and upgraded the boom that was previously deployed by the Fire Department and a cofferdam is being considered to help capture and recover gasoline in the river. Tank testing occurred at a nearby gas station and other facilities in proximity to the spill location were inspected to determine if they are losing gasoline. At this time, responders can not confirm the source of the gasoline. Responders are assessing the nearby sewer system to determine if it is the source of the gasoline.



Planned Activities 4/4/2019 02: April 04, 2019

1. Keep stakeholders informed.

2. Identify the source of the spill.

3. Remove gasoline from the river the extent practical.

4. Halt the flow of gasoline to the river.
Response Operations 4/10/2019 03: April 06, 2019
On April 6, 2019, construction of a reinforced containment structure on the bank of Popo Agie was initiated by excavating an area where product seeps had occurred on the bank. Once completed, this containment structure will also function as a recovery system for product that migrates to the stream bank. On April 7, 2019, the bank ignited during continued excavation operations. The Lander Volunteer Fire Department (LVFD) responded and the fire was quickly suppressed. Excavation operations continued until completed on April 9, 2019. The LVFD maintained continuous on-site fire suppression support during bank excavation operations. 
Planned Activities 4/10/2019 03: April 06, 2019

Edit

1. Keep stakeholders informed.

2. Maintain hard booms in river.

3. Prevent flow of gasoline into river.

4. Complete excavation of bank in preparation of construction of containment structure.



Response Operations 4/10/2019 04: April 11, 2019

On April 10, 2019, construction of the containment structure on the bank began, however operations were temporarily suspended due to severe winter weather conditions on Site.  Construction operations were reinitiated on April 11, 2019, once the storm passed. A minor flare-up occurred when more fuel was exposed while laying the footer for the containment wall. The LVFD maintained continuous on-site fire suppression support during construction operations as a precautionary measure. 

The concrete containment wall was poured on April 12, 2019. For structural integrity it is necessary to allow the wall to cure from five to seven days. On April 13, 2019, on-site ERRS and START personnel were downsized for the curing period. A skeleton ERRS staff was maintained on-site to recover product that accumulated behind the containment structure during this period. 

On April 18, 2019, construction of the containment structure was reinitiated. Well casings were placed and the area behind the containment wall was backfilled with cobble and fill until brought back to natural grade. The containment structure was then armored with natural rock secured with wire mesh. On April 20, 2019, construction activities were completed.
Planned Activities 4/10/2019 04: April 11, 2019

1. Keep stakeholders informed.

2. Maintain hard booms in river.

3. Prevent flow of gasoline into river.

4. Complete construction of containment structure.
Response Operations 10/1/2019 05: April 26, 2019
The containment structure was allowed to function for approximately one week. The OSC visited the site again on April 26th, verified it was still functional, and that the state's recovery wells next to the USTs were capturing product. At this time, the WDEQ has taken over operation and maintenance of the containment structure and oversight of the Responsible Party. 

This operational period will continue until such time as the WDEQ wells no longer recover free phase product. At this time, negotiations between WDEQ, EPA, and RP will commence to remove the concrete containment structure and restore the river bank. The OSC anticipates that the river bank restoration will not occur until low/base flows in the winter. 
Planned Activities 10/1/2019 05: April 26, 2019

Maintain containment structure and recovery wells.

WDEQ to design, construct, and test a vapor recovery system.