On
April 18, 2024, EPA Region 6 received a National Response Center Report
describing an acid spill at Highway 412 in Rogers County. The incident occurred
on April 16, 2024, and based on photos appears to be a spill to soil and the
surrounding asphalt due to unknown circumstances and by an unknown
source. The report came from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental
Quality who has been in contact with the Cherokee Nation, Fair Oaks Fire
Department and Rogers County. The county has cordoned off the area of the spill
to prevent access to the area of the spill.
The
incident location is in the inland zone, and EPA is the lead federal agency for
the response.
On
April 19, the EPA, Fair Banks Fire Department (FBFD), Oklahoma Department of
Environmental Quality (ODEQ), Rogers County Commissioner (RCC), and Rogers
County Emergency Management (RCEM) met on site to conduct a site assessment.
The group drove approximately 7 miles east on Highway 412 to determine the
extent of staining on the asphalt. After screening the soil for pH, Sodium
Bicarbonate was mixed into the pooled liquid and soil to act as a neutralizer.
Once all utility lines were cleared by 811 services, the impacted soil was
excavated at varied depths from 3” to 20”. Excavated soils were stockpiled on
top of poly and covered with poly. An orange construction fence was erected
around the entire excavation and stockpile area. Rogers County Emergency
Management Deputy Director will monitor the site and report anything unusual to
EPA. Disposal of stockpile and backfill activities will be conducted in
the coming week.
