Neches River; Beaumont, TX

Beaumont, TX | 1991-Oct-15

Initial Notification: On October 15, 1991, between 2000 and 2200 hours (CT) an estimated 2100 gallons of waste oil was spilled on the Neches River at approximately 30-01 N 094-02 W. The spill was possibly from bilge pumping. The identity of the spiller is unknown at this time. The spilled waste oil is suspected to have been treated with bilge cleaner by the spiller. The spilled oil initially impacted approximately 2 miles of the south bank of the Neches River. The impact was in pockets along the shoreline and had moderately impacted some marshy areas associated with the small pockets of oil. The salinity of the river water in the vicinity of the spill is estimated at 0.1 ppt (estimate made by MSO Port Arthur). The current in the area of the spill is estimated at no more than 0.5 kts. On October 16, MSO Port Arthur FOSC representative, LCDR Ross Tuxhorn was contacted by the NOAA SSC at the request of the CG District 8 Marine Safety Office representative, CDR Wieczynski. At that time the FOSCR stated the problem as noted above and further requested information related to a request by the Texas General Land Office to do an experiment on a designated area of the spill with Oil Spill Eater II (an enzyme product that is advertised as a biological dispersant. This is one of ten products that have been chosen for testing by NETAC. After consulting with the NOAA Hazmat Biological Assessment Team (Rebecca Hoff), LSU (Charlie Henry), and RPI (Jeff Dahlin), the SSC relayed the information to the FOSC verbally. The result of the conversation was that the recommendation was that this was not a proper type of oil, or a proper area to experiment with OSE II, and that it was recommended that the experiment not be carried out on this particular spill. The details of the consultations were put in written form by LSU and RPI and these documents were FAXed to the FOSC and the RRT-6 members on October 16. On October 17, the FOSCR accomplished a recon of the affected area and decided to change the locations of the areas to be used for an experiment to two drainage outlets that had been affected. these outlets are owned by Dupont. There is an estimated 15-25 gallons of the waste oil remaining in these two outlets that would be treated with the OSE II. The above change in locations was mentioned at the conference call that took place on October 17 at 1230 CT. During the call RRT members voiced concerns over the lack of an appropriate monitoring plan, the chemistry of the waste oil, the need to acquire the approval of the land owner to test on Dupont land, and the lack of a plan to handle the treated product in the event of flooding that would require Dupont to empty the waste oil and product into the Neches River. USCG district 8.