Gum Hollow Creek; Corpus Christi, Texas

Corpus Christi, Texas | 1994-Oct-08

Initial Notification: On October 8, 1994, lightning struck a pipeline valve, causing it to overpressurize. The pipeline failed, discharging about 2,000 barrels of crude oil into Gum Hollow Creek, a tributary of Nueces Bay. The oil flowed across Nueces Bay, impacting shoreline on islands in the bay, Indian and Rincon points, and continued across Corpus Christi Bay. On October 9, the oil began impacting the beach at Oso Fishing Pier, Oso Bay Causeway Park, and three miles of private beach-front property north of Oso Pier. Oso Bay, a highly sensitive area, had been boomed effectively. An Incident Command Post (ICP) was established with the RP, Koch Gathering; the Texas General Land Office (TGLO); and the USCG. Cleanup operations were completed on November 4 after an estimated 470 barrels were recovered. USCG district 8. Keyword: containment boom, in-situ burning, low-pressure washing, propane cannons, skimmers, sorbent booms, vacuum trucks, volunteers, weed cutters, drum skimmer.