Pollution/Situation Report Profile

(E13611) Exxon Pipeline Mayflower Arkansas Oil Spill
Mayflower, AR - EPA Region VI
POLREP #6
Progress

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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 #6
Progress
(E13611) Exxon Pipeline Mayflower Arkansas Oil Spill

Mayflower, AR
Latitude: 34.9638070 Longitude: -92.4286530

To:

From:

Nicolas Brescia, OSC

Date:

4/4/2013

Reporting Period:

April 3 - April 4, 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 03-April 04, 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 75 percent of impacted soil has been removed from this area. Divisions" Bravo and Charlie continue to remove oiled vegetation and impacted soil.

The RP continues to estimate the amount of oil released to be between 4,000-7,000 bbl.

The RP has increased their personnel and assets on site. The RP currently has 565 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 1,900 feet of hard boom and 15,880 feet of soft absorbent boom throughout the spill area and in Lake Conway. Approximately 19,592 bbl of oil and water have been recovered on site from vacuuming operations. The oil/water mixture has been placed into frac tanks. Approximately 77 Federal/State/Local personnel are currently on-site.

Sixteen oiled ducks, 11 turtles, 12 snakes and 3 muskrats/beavers have been recovered for treatment. Thirteen ducks have been cleaned and 11 ducks have been found dead. One nutria was found dead.

The EPA PIO gave a media tour to a representative of "Inside Climate." The tour took place near the cove area of the spill and outside of Unified Command. EPA provided ADEQ with the latest air quality monitoring data. ADH provided an interpretation of the data. EPA concurred on the the daily Unified Command press release.

EPA continues to plan for the collection of source oil samples for fingerprinting purposes.

Incident Command will begin implementation of a 72 hour operational period beginning April 5, 2013.

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		16,329 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.

EPA continues to plan for the collection of source oil samples for fingerprinting purposes.

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. Continue excavation of oil-impacted soils around the impacted homes.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

Continue oil recovery and air monitoring.

2.2.2 Issues

2.3 Logistics Section