Phoenix Lake; Phoenix Lake, LA

Phoenix Lake, LA | 1999-Oct-01

Initial Notification: On Friday, 1 October, the NOAA SSC was contacted by LCDR Tom Beistle, Chief of Response MSO Port Arthur, related to an oil spill in the Phoenix Lake area on the Louisiana side of the Sabine River. A spill of 115 bbl was caused by an act of vandalism on an above ground, 2" crude oil pipeline. Apparently, the line was cut with a hacksaw. The spill is relatively contained in an adjacent canal and freshwater marsh. Mechanical recovery is being effective using water herding and MARCO and drum-type skimmers. The cleanup is complicated by a large quantity of water hyacinth which are also entrained with the oil. Buddy Goatcher, USFWS is responding relative to waterfowl protection, and the Louisiana DEQ and Oil Spill Coordinator's Office have been on-scene. The SSC was requested to visit the site to discuss final cleanup issues and the potential use of bioremediation if appropriate. The SSC (Henry) is planning to be on-scene Sunday morning, 3 October. USCG district 8.