vvEPA
United States
Environmental Protectior
Agency
For more information
For questions, comments or more
information about the emergency
cleanup of the Wellington, Ohio,
pipeline spill, you can contact these
EPA team members:
Don de Blasio
Community Involvement
Coordinator
Office: 312-886-4360
Cell: 312-343-6666
deblasio don@epa.gov
Joe Fredle
On-Scene Coordinator
440-250-1740
fredle.j oseph@epa.gov
EPA toll-free:
800-621-8431, 9:30 a.m.-5:30
p.m., weekdays
Sunoco assistance line:
855-430-4491
On the Web:
www.epa.gov/region5/cleanup/welli
ngton-spill/
Soil Excavation, Air Samples
Part of Gasoline Cleanup
Wellington Spill Site
Wellington, Ohio	January 2012
Cleanup of a large gasoline spill includes soil excavation around a
ruptured pipeline, air monitoring and a focus on protecting the nearby
Black River. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with Ohio EPA
is supervising cleanup operations at the spill site. The burst pipeline Jan.
12 spilled an estimated 117,000 gallons and forced the evacuation of
around 70 people from 31 homes. Officials were concerned about an
explosion and fire risk at the site. Fumes from the spill could also have
caused breathing and long-tenn health problems. Rrsidents began
returning to their homes Jan. 20 after health officials reviewed air
sampling data. The 8-inch pipeline owned by Sunoco Logistics ruptured
shortly before 11 p.m. A resident noticed a strong gasoline smell and
alerted authorities. Wellington firefighters and village employees used
sand and gravel to build containment dams and ponds preventing most of
the spill from entering the Black River. The river is a tributary to Lake
Erie. The gasoline did contaminate White Ditch near the site of the spill.
The ditch feeds into the river.
The local responders were aided by emergency personnel from U.S. EPA,
Ohio EPA, Lorain County Flealth Department and Sunoco. Rrsidents
began returning to their homes Jan. 20 after health officials reviewed air
sampling data.
Air monitoring
Air quality is a major concern around the spill site because gasoline
contains dangerous chemicals. Benzene is a major part of gasoline and
known cancer-causing substance. EPA and Sunoco are monitoring the air.
EPA is checking the air to protect the health of residents. Sunoco is
Cleanup workers pump out gasoline-contaminated water at the site of a
pipeline rupture in Wellington, Ohio.

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monitoring air quality around the cleanup crews. U.S.
EPA brought in a mobile laboratory called TAGA for
"trace atmospheric gas analyzer." The TAGA can do
real-time sampling and analysis and detect chemicals in
the air at very low levels. U.S. EPA can provide air
quality results with a high degree of accuracy using
TAGA and other air sampling equipment. Those results
are used by local and state 1 health agencies to
determine when the air quality is safe for people to
return home.
Water quality
Responders are also working hard to protect the Black
River from the gasoline spill. Cleanup teams are doing
water sampling as well as regular visual checks from
the ditch into the Black River. So far only one instance
of a light sheen was detected on the river. The slick was
immediately cleaned up. Officials analyze daily water
samples from the White Ditch as wells as upstream and
downstream of the confluence of the White Ditch and
Black River.
Under U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA guidance, Sunoco also
installed equipment that circulates air through the
White Ditch water. This process of aeration will help
eliminate chemicals that may still remain in the water.
Other activities
The soil around the pipeline break had to be dug up and
removed because it was soaked with gasoline. U.S.
EPA supervised Sunoco contractors. Excavated soil
was placed in containers for disposal.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration, part of the U.S. Department of
Transportation, directed the removal and replacement
of the damaged pipeline. That agency will examine the
damaged section and determine a cause for the break.
U.S. EPA staffers will remain at the site during the
emergency. The long-term cleanup will be carried out
by Ohio EPA.
. I U.S. EPA On-Scene-Coordinator supen'ises operation of a machine that blows air through contaminated water.
This aeration process helps remove hazardous chemicals that were spilled when a gasoline pipeline ruptured Jan.
12 in Wellington, Ohio.
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