Background

On June 2^nd, 2023, ACME Environmental responded to an oil spill that had severely impacted a creek and several surrounding properties in Northern Oklahoma. The spill originated from an area upstream of Nine mile-creek, where oil-contaminated soil was being dumped at a dump site by an environmental waste disposal company. Due to a high amount of heavy rainfall in the area, the weight of the contaminated soil, approximating 3,000 barrels, caused the barriers in place at this facility to fail. This ended in the integrity of the barriers becoming weakened, causing the sides to blow out. Consequently, the waste traveled downstream roughly six miles, impacting three properties off-site of the dump site, impacting farmlands near houses, destroying culverts, and damaging roads along the creek. In conclusion, this required comprehensive remediation efforts due to environmental and regulatory concerns.

First Response

ACME Environmental initiated its’ first responses using a variety of techniques and equipment, such as:

Deploying containment boom and sorbents
Using high-pressured water to spray the creek bank clean of oil residue
Utilizing vacuum trucks to suction contaminated soil and water quickly
Excavating contaminated soil
Hauling off contaminated soil with dump trucks and frac tanks
Deploying oil skimmers for faster cleanup
Implementing dams to restrict water flow

Initial Removal (Day 1 of 190)

Spill technicians used vacuum trucks, excavators, rakes, floating oil skimmers, and pumps to remove the oily sludge from the creek and its bank. The vacuum trucks were used to suction the oily sludge from the impacted areas, whether that was on land, or in water. Excavators were used to remove copious amounts of contaminated soil; rakes were used to gather contaminated soil together and pumps and skimmers were used to suction the oily sludge into storage tanks.

Vacuum truck removing oil-contaminated water and soil from the creek

Storage and Management

Onsite, frac tanks stored recovered oil, soil, and water. A frac tank is a large steel container used for temporary and moveable storage of liquids and solids, hazardous or non-hazardous until the material can be disposed of. In conclusion, frac tanks helped consolidate the contaminated soil in large quantities, which facilitated faster removal of the contaminated soil.

Excavation and Removal

Excavators, bulldozers, off-road trucks, and skid steers assisted in excavating and removing the oil-contaminated soil along the creek bank. For example, excavators dig up large amounts of dirt, bulldozers push around large amounts of dirt, off-road trucks haul off materials from hard-to-reach areas, and skid steers, versatile heavy machines, move and relocate dirt. In this case, we used equipment to excavate and haul off roughly 3,000 barrels of contaminated soil.

Excavator putting oil-contaminated soil into a dump truck

Advanced Cleanup Methods

ACME deployed water tanks and high-pressure pumps along sections of the creek for spill technicians to spray down the creek bank. All oil residue was sprayed downstream and was caught by containment boom and sorbents that were deployed downriver. As a result, this made consolidating the oil spill effective and facilitated a quicker cleanup.

Creek bank being sprayed down with high-pressured water

Additionally, oil skimmers helped remove oil from the water surface, facilitating the cleanup of leftover sludge.

Oil drum skimmer separating oil from water surface

ACME strategically implemented containment boom downstream to further prevent spread when spill technicians were spraying down the creek bank. Consequently, the combination of oil skimmers, sorbents, and containment boom helped consolidate the spill, facilitating easy collection into bags and roll-off boxes. A roll-off box is a moveable waste container for easy disposal.

Spill technicians washing a culvert with high-pressured water with containment boom and sorbents deployed nearby to catch the runoff

Logistical Challenges

ACME Environmental faced several logistical hurdles during the cleanup, such as:

Management of wetlands and high levels of saturation in the area
Potential health and safety risks
Challenging waterways
Critical protection and rehabilitation of wildlife in the area.

Managing Wet Areas

ACME managed extremely wet areas by mixing impacted soil with dry dirt, enabling easier handling and disposal of the waste at designated disposal sites. For example, during the cleanup process, there were many days when heavy rainfall was present. As a result, the rain slowed down operations and spread the oil further than it had initially.

Puddles caused by heavy rainfall

Risk Mitigation

ACME devised solutions to mitigate the risk of further spread by constructing dams downstream. For example, ACME used coffer dams to separate water from the work area to make the cleanup process easier. ACME used water dams to stop the flow of water in the creek to prevent the further spread of oil. Earth dams are made of natural materials like soil, clay, and rock to impede water flow. ACME made earth dams in correspondence to water dams to help restrict the flow of water. In conclusion, these structures slow down the spread of oil in the water and regulate water flow, enabling ACME to clean up the waste quickly and effectively.

A coffer dam in a drainage pasture to prevent oily sludge from spreading

Creek-Specific Challenges

ACME tackled challenges unique to the narrow, crevice-filled banks of the creek, where conventional cleanup methods were nearly impossible. As a result, this led ACME to excavate many affected areas and subsequently apply hydroseeding to promote natural vegetation regrowth along the creek bank. ACME utilized hydroseeding on areas that had fresh soil to replace the excavated areas. Consequently, hydroseeding on uncontaminated soil accelerates habitat recovery and provides healthy living spaces for wildlife. As a result of hydroseeding, ACME was able to facilitate a quick recovery of soil for impacted properties. Especially for farmers, hydroseeding the impacted farmlands allowed farmers to utilize more of their land for crops.

ACME hydroseeding soil to promote vegetation growth

Wildlife Management

ACME encountered snapping turtles affected by the spill and quickly responded to ensure their health and safety.

Recovery Procedure

Upon identification, ACME used specialized techniques and equipment to safely capture and recover affected snapping turtles from the impacted areas. Additionally, ACME used handling procedures to minimize stress and injury to the snapping turtles during capture and transport.

Decontamination Procedures

ACME performed decontamination procedures to thoroughly cleanse the snapping turtles of all oil residues and pollutants. These procedures involved using gentle washing techniques with appropriate cleaning agents approved for wildlife care. Therefore, careful monitoring ensured that ACME effectively decontaminated wildlife before any further handling or relocation.

Snapping turtles being decontaminated with dawn soap

Relocation

After successfully recovering and decontaminating them, ACME relocated the snapping turtles to safer, unaffected areas. Additionally, ACME carefully selected relocation sites that provided suitable habitats and minimized the potential risks of additional contamination.

Workforce and Regulatory Coordination

ACME oversaw the daily operations of the workforce of 30 individuals, including spill technicians, equipment operators, and supervisors. Throughout operations, ACME maintained constant communication with compliance and regulatory authorities. As a result, this ongoing communication with authorities such as the EPA, OCC, and Oklahoma Department of Fish and Wildlife ensured that ACME upheld environmental protection standards throughout the cleanup process.

Spill technicians bagging oil-contaminated soil

Project Duration

The cleanup project started on June 2^nd, 2023, and concluded on October 18^th, 2023, with the final removal of the containment boom from the creek completed on December 8^th, 2023. This timeline vividly demonstrates the thoroughness and dedication required by ACME to effectively remediate the environmental impact of the oil spill.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the successful cleanup of the oil spill in a creek in Northern Oklahoma is a testament to proactive environmental stewardship and collaborative efforts between regulatory bodies and ACME Environmental. Consequently, by employing a combination of advanced cleanup technologies, strategic logistical planning, and wildlife conservation practices, the project not only restored impacted areas of the environment but also mitigated potential long-term environmental consequences. As a result, ACME’s performance ensured the health and integrity of the creek and its surrounding habitats. ACME can help anyone stay ready, so they do not have to get ready. Reach out to ACME for your specific needs and receive the same thorough and effective spill response services, and we can help you Leave No Trace.