OEPA received a call on 5/1/13 regarding oil in an unnamed tributary to Baughman Creek in Bristolville, OH. Ohio EPA OSC responded. He found a spill that appeared to originate from a 5,000 gallon above ground crude oil tank in a field in the vicinity. The tank was connected to a nearby natural gas well to collect crude oil generated in natural gas production processes. According to the well servicer, the tank was known to have held approximately 1700 gallons of crude when it was shut off in December 2012, and plugged. The tank was located approximately 20 feet from the unnamed tributary. Free product was observed all around the tank, in the soil based containment, in the soil, and throughout an approximately 0.75 mile stretch of creek. The unnamed tributary is a small shallow creek - width ranging from 2 feet to 10 feet. Ohio EPA mobilized contractors to clean up the oil. Many dikes and booms were installed through the impacted area, and some excavation of the source area was completed. According to OH OSC, these accumulation areas were left clean every evening, and extensive product accumulated at each by the next morning. On the afternoon of May 4th, Ohio EPA requested US EPA assistance to complete the clean up. The unnamed tributary flows north and west along several farm properties, into Baughman Creek, then into the Grand River approximately 6.25 miles from the point of discharge. Many sensitive species are known from the vicinity of the spill area, including Indiana bat, massasauga rattlesnake, and bald eagles. Bald eagles have been sighted daily during the response.
The NOAA SSC is providing US EPA support regarding possible in-situ burning of the oil as well as detailed weather updates.
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