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Provo Canyon Crude Oil Spill

 
Site Contact:
Joyel Dhieux
OSC

(dhieux.joyel@epa.gov)

Site Location:
East of Provo, UT 84604
 epaosc.org/provorivercrudeoil
NRC#: 1134430

At approximately 10:15 am Saturday, November 28, a crude oil truck overturned in Provo Canyon releasing its load of approximately 4,500 gallons. The truck was carrying a waxy crude from the Uinta Basin, and the oil solidified along the drainage and in the Provo River. An estimated 1000-1500 gallons of crude flowed into the Provo River. OSC Joyel Dhieux was dispatched to the scene at 11:30 a.m.MST.

The spill occurred approximately 3/4 - 1 mile upstream from the Olmstead Diversion Dam. The Diversion Dam provides drinking water supplies for Orem, Provo and Salt Lake City. The Central Utah Water District was promptly notified, and they closed their intake approximately 30 minutes before the first observation of oil. The water district is pulling water from an alternative source at this time. The water district also deployed boom, which appears to have successfully captured much of the oil. Thanks to the quick thinking and quick actions of the first responders and the Central Water District, the impacts from the spill have been substantially reduced.

Because of the cold weather conditions, the oil is congealing into soft solid chunks on the ground and in the Provo River behind the collection boom.


The wall where oil had flowed off of the road was cleaned. Fresh top soil is brought into the site to replace the oil-contaminated soils. Workers slowly walked and boated along the shoreline collecting the remaining oil from the water. Due to the waxy nature of the crude, there were minimal impacts to shore line vegetation. Crude oil and contaminated soils along the road and river bank were removed. The area was re-graded to natural contours. Boulders were placed to secure the bank. Fresh top soil and seed will be brought in to reclaim the area. (Photo provided by Savage) The storm water drain was cleaned by hand and then pressure washed. The water used for the pressure wash was collected by a vacuum truck before it discharged into the Provo River. Collecting oil along the bank by the spill site. Much of congealed oil can be removed by hand. The section of river closest to the intake was cleaned on 12/3/15. A minimal amount of oil was trapped in the ice that is forming over the river. Boats floated along side each bank of the river collecting chunks and flakes of solidified crude oil. Oil was removed by hand and the storm water sewer was washed and wiped, also by hand. Crews removing oil and stained vegetation along the bank of the Provo River. A small section of bank was impacted and will be restored. Oil has been collected from the area around the sewer discharge into the river. Flakes of oil that are beginning to become trapped in the ice. Ice has been forming over the river. Envirocare crews collecting oil at the storm sewer drainage. The majority of the oil at the Diversion boom was collected for disposal on November 29, 2015 A view of the Provo River looking towards the Diversion Oil collected by sorbent boom placed near the spill site View of the oil in the storm sewer. The oil has congealed and is not flowing in the cold temperatures. It can be chiseled off the drain, like a wax. Oil collected at the spill site. The storm sewer drains into the Provo River at this site. Oil also flowed over the road and onto the bank of the river. Boom placed at the outfall of the storm water sewer. Oil traveled through the storm water sewer into the river. Flakes of oil observed along the river banks between the spill site and the Diversion boom Small flakes of oil are observed along the banks of the Provo River between the spill site and the Diversion. These flakes of oil will be collected by boat. Another view of the oil collected at the Diversion boom. The oil has congealed into sheets and flakes. Flakes of oil are observed floating near the banks by the Diversion. The oil is hardened due to it's waxy content and the cold weather. Outside temperatures in Provo Canyon are approximately 20 deg. F. Boom at the Diversion. Snow covered material collected in the boom is primarily oil. Snow-covered crude oil successfully collected by the boom at the Diversion Worker removing congealed chunk of crude oil from the Provo River EnviroCare workers collecting congealed crude from just above the Olmstead Diversion Dam. Accident Scene Collection/Diversion boom placed just upstream of the Olmstead Diversion Dam Some congealed chunks of oil floating in the Provo River Part of the damaged tanker frame with oil underneath Collection Boom place at spill scene where oil is entering the Provo River Oil moving from Highway 189 onto the bank and into the Provo River Accident Scene Oil tanker rolled over on Highway 189
For additional information, visit the Pollution/Situation Report (Pol/Sitreps) section.