Proof! ADEQ Internal Cover-Up Of Mayflower Oil Spill

Just a little over 2 hrs A leak amerged regarding the MAYFLOWER OIL SPILL.  The leak is a single email document showing proof that there is a coverup during this eco desister. 

The 2013 Mayflower oil spill occurred on March 29, 2013, when an ExxonMobil pipeline carrying Canadian Wabasca heavy crude from the Athabasca oil sands ruptured in Mayflower, Arkansas, about 25 miles northwest of Little Rock. Approximately 12,000 barrels (1,900 m³) of oil mixed with water had been recovered by March 31. Twenty-two homes were evacuated. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified the leak as a major spill. A reported 5,000 barrels of crude were spilled.

Exxon’s Pegasus pipeline carries 95,000 barrels per day (15,100 m³/d) of crude a distance of 850 miles (1368 km) from Patoka, Illinois to Nederland, Texas. The pipeline is twenty inches in diameter and is buried an average of twenty-four inches below ground.

The email can be seen below:

From: “Hynum, Tammie” <</span>IMCEAEX-_O=ARKANSAS+20DEPT+2E+20OF+20ENVIRONMENTAL +20QUALITY_OU=ADEQ1_CN=RECIPIENTS_CN=MAIL+20BOXES_CN=HYNUM@duncanfirm.com> Date: Sunday, April 7, 2013 11:28 AM To: “Benefield, Ryan” <</span>[email protected]>, “Marks, Teresa” <</span>[email protected]>, “Benenati, Katherine” <</span>[email protected]>, “Drown, Steve” <</span>[email protected]>, “Shafii, Mo” <</span>[email protected]>

Cc: “Wilson, Penny” <<span class=”">[email protected]>, “Robinson, Kelly” <<span class=”">[email protected]>, “VanDerhoff, Dean” <<span class=”">V [email protected]>

Subject: 4/7/13 Exxon Pipeline Status Update

There are 4 staging areas set up around the Mayflower area and the Conway ExxonMobil staging area. ADEQ has been making daily rounds of these areas to ensure containment and labeling aspects of the approved plans are in place. The only issues discovered to date was a lack of labeling of content and some of the secondary containment areas were not fully erected. The containment areas were immediately corrected. The labeling issue was brought to Ops attention this morning and is currently being amended. The County Judge has requested ADEQ developed an internal schedule and periodically visit these staging areas. This is on-going.

Surface Water Sampling – As you are all aware there is lots of concern and discussion within the community about the levels of contamination in Lake Conway. Exxon has a contractor performing surface and at depth water samples at 7 locations; 5 are within the main body of Lake Conway and 2 are within the cove area. EPA and ADEQ talked yesterday about the possible need for ADEQ to pull “split” samples. The samples from Exxon are being analyzed for VOCs, PAHs, and some metals. Not surprisingly Benzene appears to be the predominant constituent being detected. The good news is Benzene has been ND in the 5 sample points within the main body of Lake Conway; there has been detection of Benzene within the cove. However, the level has greatly decreased in the past several days. Exxon samples daily. I would like to recommend ADEQ put together a small team to accompany Exxon’s contractors for a minimum of 2 to 3 days a week on the sampling event and collect split samples. Our lab could analyze our samples (hopefully with a quick TAT) and ADEQ would then be in a position to compare our results to Exxon’s results (similar to what EPA is doing with the Air monitoring in the area).

If everyone is OK with this approach I can get a schedule from the Exxon staff over the surface water sampling events. Steve…this can be a joint effort between HWD and Water if you have personnel available starting Monday. If personnel resources are limited Penny is ok handling this for ADEQ.

Press Releases – Observation: The Unified Command Press Releases have each organizations logo at the top with the exception of Arkansas. From a logo standpoint it appears the Unified Command Joint Information Center is comprised of ExxonMobil; Faulkner County; EPA; and the City of Mayflower.

Do we want to get access to a State of AR logo to place on these as well so the public sees AR is present in the Unified Command JIC as well?

Re-Entry – The ADH is having “decision makers” arrive at the JIC today so a discussion can take place on possible re-entry for 2 to 3 homes. The meeting is tentatively scheduled for around noon today. ADH has provided Exxon with re-entry levels for several key constituents. Exxon has prepared a re-entry plan. UIC has requested a copy of this. More information will be forwarded as it becomes available.

Waste Management – Waste sampling will commence Monday and a 24 hour TAT will be requested. The abbreviated list of constituents consists of Benzene, Cadmium, Chromium, and Arsenic. There will be 1 sample/roll-off or frac tank collected. Investigative Derived Waste (IDW) will be characterized using the same list of constituents. At last night’s briefing, Exxon conveyed the preliminary results from the oil liquid frac tanks shows 4 out of 5 exceed the TCLP level for Benzene (HW); one non-hazardous. Estimated totals within the 4 staging areas around town are 16 HW and 44 Non-HW. This morning Exxon has approached ADEQ about treating the HW oil to recover the crude and ship left over water as Non-HW. This is typically accomplished using carbon filtration. In the spirit of moving the fracs out of the community I would like to see this treatment done at the Conway staging area. It is approximately 65 acres, out of the city limits (isolated) and our visit revealed the area had ample room for this activity to take place and there was good security in the Unified Command JIC as well? Do we want to get access to a State of AR logo to place on these as well so the public sees AR is present. Feedback needed: Reg. 23 allows oral approval of an emergency permit (followed up in writing within 5 days). This is found in 270.61. I certainly support recovering as much crude as possible and only having Exxon dispose of the “left over” residuals. If everyone is OK with the emergency permit allowing treatment on-site (in Conway) I can (1) issue the Emergency Permit orally and (2) get a written Emergency Permit drafted within the 5 day limit. Please Advise.

Discussion of Press Conference yesterday – Exxon is meeting with Austin today to discuss “lessons learned” on the conference yesterday. (note: Katherine-we might want to touch base with Austin next week to get an update on the lessons learned). Exxon did state they really want to get an expert to speak to the water data. ADEQ has requested a summary of the surface water data and a map. Exxon is offering a special tour of the neighborhood for 2-3 media. Exxon mentioned their plans of limiting the number of media that can attend these type sessions; their words were “we need to start disciplining the media.”

Exxon has lat and long of each of the sample locations within the cove and lake. They are going to get this information to us. Maybe we can plot the locations on a google aerial and then layer our data information? Thoughts?

Neighborhood Outreach – Exxon has folks going door to door today to hand out newsletters

That summarizes the events of late 4/6 and morning of 4/7. The action items are in red and highlighted in yellow. Please let me know if you have any questions. I really appreciate everyone’s support! Thanks!

Tammie J. Hynum

Chief

Hazardous Waste Division ADEQ

5301 Northshore Drive North Little Rock, AR 72118

Phone: 501-682-0831

Fax: 501-682-0565

Email: [email protected]

Source: /tLn956xfug