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Mid-Valley Pipeline Ruptures Releasing Over 60,000 Gallons of Crude Oil Into the Kentucky River
Federal Government Reaches Settlement with Pipeline Companies Regarding Crude Oil Spills
» Read Press Release
History - Technicians monitoring a crude oil line noted a drop in pressure on a 22-inch pipeline along the river around 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 26, 2005. The pipeline was shut down and officials were notified. A subsidiary of Sunoco Logistics is in charge of operating the pipeline. Approximately 262,000 gallons were released from the pipeline into the river.
The company and experts from federal, state, and local agencies have taken water samples that indicate constituents from the oil release are present in the Ohio River, however, we are pleased to find that they are below standard s set for safe drinking water. The Unified Command is working together with all agencies/authorities to monitor water quality.
Site Status - 02/07/05 - Effective 02/07/05, the Unified Command (UC) has determined that the emergency response phase of the incident has concluded and long-term recovery operations have begun.
Current Activities: Weather is rainy with temperatures in the 50s. Up to 3/4 inches of rainfall is predicted for the region through 02/08/05.
Oil product recovery operations on the Kentucky River were completed over the weekend. Booms remain at Point Park upstream of the confluence of the Ohio River solely for debris collection and removal. Decon facilities constructed at this location are expected to remain in operation through the week of 02/07/05.
Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Team (SCAT) recon of the Ohio River is complete from Carrollton (MM546) to "Eighteen Mile Island" (MM586). Based on SCAT findings reported on 02/06/05, a cleanup crew was dispatched today to recover a minor quantity of accumulated black oil at a natural collection point on 18 Mile Island.
Overflights conducted today along the Ohio River disclosed the presence of a minor quantity of recoverable oil along the Indiana shoreline at or near MM598. SCAT on-water recon activities will progress further downstream to this point to more precisely quantify the aerial observations of spilled oil at this location.
Planned Removal Actions: A seven day operational period has been established effective as of 0600 hrs. on 02/08/05 . During this period, the following activities are planned:
- Complete shoreline assessment on impacted areas of the Ohio River; re-survey areas of the KY River impacted by the breach of oil containment occurring on 01/31/05.
- Complete removal of minor quantities of oil accumulation along the Ohio River.
- Begin and complete shoreline cleanup along the 16 mile impacted stretch of the Kentucky River. Observations made thus far by SCAT are that shoreline impacts along this reach are minimal.
- Begin shoreline cleanup along the Ohio River. Observations made thus far by SCAT are that shoreline impacts are extensive in certain areas along a 50 mile stretch downstream of Carrollton.
Next Steps: EPA plans to demobilize all USCG GST and START contractor resources by 02/09/05. NOAA and USFWS will remain involved in SCAT oversight of shoreline removal operations through the week of 02/07/05.
The EPA OSC expects to transition the lead agency role from EPA to KYDEP effective 02/15/05.
02/04/05 - Crude Oil Spill Clean Up Status Amended - Officials in the Unified Command that includes Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management, the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection and Carroll County Emergency Management said today that the clean up is no longer designated an emergency response but that efforts to contain and recover the oil, shoreline and wildlife assessment, and air and water monitoring would continue as necessary until the clean up is complete.
Initial Oil Release Estimates Updated - Comprehensive analysis has determined that the amount of crude oil that was released from the pipeline near Carrollton, KY was approximately 82,000 gallons vs. the initial report of 63,000 gallons. Initial estimates were based on visual observation. More than 50,000 gallons of oil has been recovered. Drinking Water in Ohio River is Safe Constituents from the oil release have been detected at levels that are below standards set for safe drinking water in the Ohio River. Louisville water company representatives indicated that water is being treated with powdered activated carbon at processing plants along the Ohio River and that there is no impact to customers.
02/02/05 - Collection of Oil in Kentucky River Continues - Officials in the Unified Command that includes Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management, the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection and Carroll County Emergency Management said today that new containment areas have been established along the Kentucky River and the oil flow from that area has been stabilized. The bulk of oil in the Kentucky River has been recovered (more than 48,000 gallons). Debris collection and disposal is underway at the containment areas. A shoreline assessment of the oil impacts along the Kentucky River has been completed. Planning for shoreline restoration is in progress.
Oil Sheen Sighted on Ohio River in Louisville - Officials reported today that a sheen of oil that reached from bank to bank was visible from the bridge in Louisville, Kentucky. Workers have deployed three diversion booms in the Ohio River along the Kentucky bank. Boom has been placed at a location approximately 12 miles from Carrollton, KY and recovery of oil, at that point, is underway. Oil has been contained approximately 12 miles downstream and recovery, at that point, is underway.
Water Treatment Facilities Monitor Drinking Water Sources - The Unified Command is working together with authorities in charge of local water treatment facilities to monitor water quality. Constituents from the oil release have been detected at levels that are below standards set for safe drinking water in the Ohio River. Louisville water authorities said today that water is being treated with powdered activated carbon at processing plants along the Ohio River and that there is no impact to customers.
Proposed Action Items 02/02/05 - Significant actions items accomplished to date in an effort to contain and recover the oil are listed below:
- Responded with company and contractor personnel and placed boom in the Kentucky River to contain oil
- Obtained an 800 number for local residents to call in with health concerns and to report and wildlife potentially affected by oil release
- Appoint an information officer/establish a joint information center to facilitate the timely, effective distribution of public information
- Set incident objectives (completed)
- Ensure safety and health of respondents and the public
- Establish and maintain effective containment/recover spilled oil
- Ensure restoration of environment to pre-spill conditions
- Repair pipeline and safely restore pipeline to normal operations
- Provide accurate and timely incident information to the public
- Reduce injury/impact to natural resources/recover/rehabilitate affected wildlife
- Monitor and minimize impact to water resources, including potential effect to public drinking water supplies
- Conduct Press Conferences and distribute information updates to ensure accurate and timely release of information to the public
- Completed shoreline assessment on Kentucky River
- Perform wildlife assessment/rehabilitation along Kentucky River
- Develop criteria for shoreline restoration on Kentucky River
- Collect air samples to ensure public and responder safety
- Collect water samples to ensure safety of public drinking water supply supplies
- Repaired pipeline/returned to normal operations
- Improve collection of oil at containment areas on the Kentucky River due to the effects of debris and increased water flow
- Minimize impact of oil that entered Ohio River
- Implement shoreline assessment for the Ohio River
- Address increasing public interest with public availability session and fact sheets for public distribution
- Coordinate with and distribute incident information to local officials in areas impacted when oil entered the Ohio River
01/31/05 - Crude Oil Enters Ohio River - Officials in the Unified Command that includes Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management, and the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection announced today that crude oil spilled Wednesday, January 26 into the Kentucky River has entered the Ohio River. Containment areas previous established in the Kentucky River were breached due to increased water flow and fallen trees/limbs.
Oil has been sighted in the Ohio River. The volume of oil that may enter the river is unknown at this time. Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P., and its contractors continue efforts into the night to reinforce containment and recover oil to prevent further discharge into the Ohio River. Evaluation of the situation is ongoing and further information will be available Tuesday morning.
The Unified Command is working with authorities in charge of local water treatment facilities to ensure that drinking water supplies remain safe.
01/30/05 - Pipeline to Resume Normal Operation:
Officials in the Unified Command that includes Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management announced today that repair on the pipeline that released crude oil into the Kentucky River near Carrollton, KY, is nearing completion. The line is being repaired and is scheduled to be refilled and returned to normal operations within the next 24 hours.
The pipeline failed at the girth weld of a joint that was within 50 feet of where the line was buried under the Kentucky River bank. That segment of the line has been replaced. The damaged segment will be sent to an independent laboratory for testing to help determine the cause of the failure.
More than 40,000 gallons of crude oil has been recovered from the river. Recovery and clean up will continue until completed.
Incident Objectives - 01/31/05 - Overall objectives established for the incident include:
- Ensure safety and health of respondents and the public
- Establish and maintain effective containment/recover spilled oil
- Ensure restoration of environment to pre-spill conditions
- Repair pipeline and safely restore pipeline to normal operations
- Provide accurate and timely incident information to the public
- Reduce injury/impact to natural resources/recover/rehabilitate affected wildlife
- Plan for and shift response from emergency to long-term recovery
- Monitor and minimize impact to water resources, including potential effect to public drinking water supplies
- Minimize impact to Ohio River
This site information summarizes the history of the response, response activities presently underway, and activities planned for the site, and is provided by EPA; Commonwealth of Kentucky, Division of Emergency Management; and Sunoco Logistics.
State and local agencies should contact the following for information:
Ben Franco, US EPA
Liaison Officer
404-915-6952
Media representatives and the public should contact the following for information:
Jim Gipson
Sunoco Logistics Partners
(918) 810-8305
Sherryl Carbonaro
US EPA
(678) 575-7355
02/03/05 - The joint information center in the Unified Command will close today, Thursday, February 3, 2005. All contacts will remain available at the numbers listed above and will continue to provide information concerning the clean up upon request.
Individuals who believe that they have been impacted by this incident should call 1-800-590-3519 to register their concerns.
Initial EPA Pollution Report - January 27, 2005
Additional Pollution Reports can be obtained at http://www.epaosc.net/polrep_list.asp?site_id=1302
For information about the contents of this page please contact Sherry Maddox