1
V
Silvertip Pipeline
Incident: Update
Montana Department of
Environmental Quality'
July 13, 201 I
UHC
Unified
Health
Command
For more
informatioi
EPA web site:
ina.gov/
vellowstoneriversoil
EPA Public Inquiries
303-312-6015
EPA Media: Inquirie
406-351-9014
Spill Information Lii.
888-382-0043
Wildlife Hotline:
800-259-0596
State of Montana
406-657-0231
www. ve 11 o wsto n e ri ve ro i I
Unified Health Command
www.riverstonehealth.org
Vendors,call: J.C.Harris
of ExxonMobil:
832-457-7225
Response Summary
• EPA response crews and ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. work crews, overseen by
EPA, the US Coast Guard, the State of Montana and state and federal wildlife
agencies, are focusing the response on the 20 miles of the Yellowstone River
immediately downstream of Laurel, MT.
• The area monitored extends to Glendive, Montana; Oil has been visibly
confirmed by Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Techniques (SCAT) Teams as far as
67 miles downstream from the spill site.
• Nearly 700 workers (federal, State, ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. and private
contractors) are currently responding to the Silvertip Pipeline incident.
• EPA's primary concern is protecting public health and the environment.
• EPA continues to hold ExxonMobil Pipeline Co., the responsible party,
accountable for assessment and cleanup.
• EPA will remain on-site to ensure cleanup and restoration are protective of
public health and the environment.
• EPA is finalizing sampling plans using State of Montana regulatory standards to
ensure the response is protective of human health and the environment.
• EPA is monitoring air quality as well as surface water, private drinking water
wells, and irrigation wells. In addition, EPA has directed ExxonMobil to con-
duct extensive sampling. EPA is conducting verification testing for at least 10%
of all samples collected by ExxonMobil Pipeline Co and their contractors.
• As Yellowstone River flows recede and more floodplain is accessible, EPA
initiated soil and sediment sampling.
• EPA posts sampling data on its website as soon as the data is available.
• The Agency has issued an administrative order under the Clean Water Act to
ExxonMobil Pipeline Co., directing the company to take a number of cleanup
and restoration efforts. EPA continues to carefully and thoroughly review
their work plans, data and field activities with the State of Montana.
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Silvertip Pipeline Incident: Update
Assessment, Sampling and Monitoring
ExxonMobil's
ssessment and
cleanup to moke
ure that public
'tealth and the
environment are
protected. EPA
will make sure
ExxonMobil
fulfills
obligate
Shoreline Cleanup
Assessment Techniques
Team Targets Areas
The multi-agency SCAT
Teams are focused on the
areas between Laurel and
Billings (Divisions A and B
on the map), meticulously
assessing the most heavily
affected areas of the spill.
More teams will deploy as
the river levels go down.
State, other Federal agency
and contractor personnel
are participating in this ef-
fort. Crews are currently
working at 45 locations.
Now that the river levels are
dropping, work crews can
access more of the Yellow-
stone River floodplain and
this means increased cleanup
progress. Once the areas are
assessed, cleanup will be con-
ducted as needed and then
evaluated to verify that no
further response is needed.
Ultimately, the State of Mon-
tana will determine how
much damage has been done
and how much restoration is
needed.
SCAT Teams follow 3-steps:
I) Assess the location and
degree of contamination;
2) Proceed with cleanup
according to standards and
recommendations;
3) Evaluate the cleanup to
determine if additional
response is needed.
SCAT team
member
collecting
water
samples.
Response Actions taken by or directed by EPA include:
• EPA is leading Unified Command Structure response effort
• As of 7/12/1 I, cleanup crews have used the following oil-collecting materials: 34,600 feet of
absorbent booms, 400 feet of hard booms (containment), 2,848 feet of absorbent rolls, 1,841
feet of Viscous Sweep and 241,400 absorbent pads
• Crews have recovered 942 barrels of oily liquids, which is approximately 9 barrels of oil and
505 cubic yards of oily solids
• Liquid waste is going to the refinery for processing, and solid waste is presently being stored
but will ultimately be disposed of in a permitted landfill
• Drafting and finalizing response action plans
• Drafting and finalizing sampling plans
• Issuing an Order under the Clean Water Act to ExxonMobil Pipeline Co.
• Obtained 2 helicopters for reconnaissance
• Obtained 46 boats for identifying oiled areas, transporting cleanup crews to those areas
• Sampling local public water supplies
• Sampling several hundred private drinking water wells
• Monitoring air quality
• Sampling soil and sediment as water levels recede to allow access
• Posting sampling and monitoring results on the EPA website
• Daily press releases
• Daily press briefings
• Regular briefings for local officials
• Regular public meetings
• Following up on calls to spill information line
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July 13, 201 I
Roles and Responsibilities of the Primary Silvertip Oil Response Team
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) The response is led by EPA's Incident Commander, a federal On-scene Coordinator.
The response is coordinated under a Unified Command Structure. EPA is leading the effort in close coordination with its State, Tribal,
federal, and local partners. In this role, EPA is directing and overseeing response activities.
Montana Department Of Environmental Quality (DEQ) The role of DEQ is to make sure that the needs and interests of Montana
and its citizens are met and that the cleanup is done right.
ExxonMobil As the owner and operator of the Silvertip Pipeline, EPA is holding ExxonMobil accountable for the cleanup and
working with the Department of the Interior, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and state and local agencies to ensure that ExxonMo-
bil, as the Responsible Party, addresses any and all potential impacts of the oil spill.
US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service members are supporting Wildlife Operations by conducting
aerial wildlife surveys; embedding with cleanup crews as Resource Advisors; and participating in Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Tech-
nique teams. These Service members are applying their varied areas of expertise to the incident. Service members with backgrounds in
environmental contaminants, toxicology and wildlife biology are contributing to the overall effort on a daily basis. Going forward, Service
members will be helping review work plans for long-term recovery, remediation and restoration.
US Department of Transportation (USDOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) of the US-
DOT is responsible for the safety oversight of over 2 million miles of hazardous liquid and natural gas pipelines in the United States. We do
this through our safety regulations and a strong enforcement program based on our field audits of each pipeline system. During a high pro-
file event like the Exxon Silvertip spill, PHMSA inspectors are focused on two things ~ immediately eliminating any imminent harm that the
pipeline may pose, and conducting an accident investigation. The results of the investigation are used to determine what long term reme-
dial actions that the pipeline company must take to ensure safety and protection of the environment, as well as support any enforcement
actions that may be considered. USDOT investigators also keep the decision makers at the incident command system informed of any
operational impacts that the pipeline may pose on the response.
Riverstone Health (Yellowstone City-County Health Department) and the Unified Health Command Riverstone Health,
Yellowstone County's public health organization, has responsibility to protect the community from potential health threats. Our efforts
assist the community in preventing, preparing, responding to and recovering from events that may adversely impact the public's health and
safety. Riverstone Health partners with Billings Clinic, St. Vincent Healthcare and Yellowstone County Disaster and Emergency Services in
the Unified Health Command which ensures the coordination of public health system efforts.
"" E
The photo above shows an
assessment crew along the Yel-
lowstone River on July I 1,201 I.
The map at the left shows
Divisions A, B, and C of the
response. Division C extends to
the border with Treasure County
and then proceeds downstream.
Work is focused primarily in
Divisions A and B.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How far has the oil
spread downstream?
Oil has been confirmed approximately 67 miles downstream from the
release by the Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Techniques (SCAT) Team;
however, no significant oil has been reported beyond Pompey's Pillar
(approximately 45 miles from the spill site). The majority of the impacted
areas appear to be in a 20-mile area between Laurel and Billings, Montana.
The response area includes the Yellowstone River all the way to Glendive,
MT but no oil has been spotted that far downstream.
What actions are
being taken to
contain and
cleanup the oil?
As of July 13, there are nearly 700 workers responding to the Silvertip Oil
Spill. The pipeline has been shut down; oil-absorbant materials have been
placed to trap oil; crews are assessing areas for possible impacts and nec-
essary cleanup; air, water, soil, and sediment samples have been collected;
Have there been
impacts to
wildlife?
To date, the following wildlife impacts have been reported: one warbler
was found oiled but is alert and responsive; two toads; one garter snake,
and one duck (unidentified species). If residents see birds covered with oil,
they should call Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks at 406- 247-2940 or
Wildlife Hotline at 800-259-0596.
Is drinking water
affected?
Operators of downstream public drinking water system which drew water
from the Yellowstone River were immediately notified after the spill.
Those systems have since been tested for more than 100 contaminants
and were found to meet drinking water standards Efforts are underway
to sample private drinking water wells between Laurel and Billings.
View results at EPA's website: http://www.epa.gov/yellowstoneriverspill
Has air quality
been affected?
Air monitoring is being conducted using real-time instruments. The air is
being tested for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with an oil
spill and these air monitoring results have been "non-detect" for VOCs.
View results and locations at EPA's website:
http://www.epa.gov/yellowstoneriverspill
Who is paying for
the cleanup?
ExxonMobil, as the owner and operator of the Silvertip Pipeline, is
responsible for the cleanup.
What happens
next?
Assessment continues and will expand as additional areas of the floodplain
become accessible as the Yellowstone River levels drop. EPA will
continue to work with the State to ensure that cleanup standards are met.
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