Articles

by Emily Waldrep

Cleanup crews, multiple biologists, environmentalists and several other officials are currently set up in Woodville after a landowner discovered a Sunoco Pipeline that began leaking into Otter Creek.

According to Dale Freeman, Tyler County Emergency management, Don Grant discovered the leak on Saturday afternoon after he smelled oil near the creek.

"On Saturday at 2 p.m. I received a call from John Fuller telling me that Grant, who lives near Otter Creek, observed the smell of oil coming from the creek," Freeman said. "They went to the creek and could see oil on top of the water. Grant and Fuller began walking down the creek looking for the source of the oil. After some searching, they found a leak on the Sunoco Pipe Line at milepost 9. The oil was coming out of the pipe, flowing across the ground, entering a drain area and eventually running into Otter Creek."

Freeman, Grant, and Fuller quickly notified officials, and began taking steps to get the oil to stop leaking

"When we found out whose pipeline it was we contacted the company. The railroad commission gave them orders to shut down immediately, and they were able to stop the flow of oil on Saturday afternoon," Freeman said. "Crews began the cleanup phase on Sunday morning after a patch was installed on the pipeline Saturday night."

Workers are currently diligently cleaning up the spilled oil, and Tyler County, along with multiple local and state agencies are working hard to ensure the clean up is finished completely and the creek is restored to pristine condition.

"There are 121 workers on the ground and seven different contractors from four states," Freeman said. "They will be here until they get everything cleaned up."

Oil spill cleanups can be difficult, but according to Freeman, crews have employed several methods to get the job done thoroughly.

"Cleanup crews have three separate boom stations set up," Freeman said. "A boom is a floating device that is placed across the waterway. As the water flows through the creek it travels underneath the boom, leaving the oil residue caught behind the boom. They are then able to vacuum it up from the top of the water. They are still seeing sheen of oil near the 1745 bridge. In addition to the boom, they have papers that are separated in 18-inch squares that can be stretched across the creek to soak up the oil. They also have a vacuum truck on Highway 190 and booms up and down the creek area."

Freeman also says that some vegetation up to 5 feet on the creek bank is affected, since the creek level rose during recent rains and oil gathered on grass, trees and brush that became submerged when the water level rose. Cleanup crews will be wiping oil from all of the affected vegetation.

"Crews are working around the clock," Freeman said. "There is a day and night crew, as well as a command station set up at the Woodville Inn to help organize all crew members and agencies."

Otter Creek empties into Russell Creek, which in turn empties into the Neches River. According to Freeman, a majority of the oil was stopped before it was able to reach Russell creek and no oil has been found in the Neches River.

"There are booms set up on Russell creek to catch oil as well," Freeman said. "In addition, helicopters also flew over the Neches river but no oil sheen was detected, which is very good."

According to Freeman, the oil spill should have a minimal effect on the wildlife in the area.

"At this point, we do not know of any fish kill," Freeman said. "There had been information about one duck that was seen with oil on it, but no one has been able to find it, so there is no proof to those claims. An environmental biologist with Parks and Wildlife and environmental protection agency are on scene to help protect the wildlife."

Freeman said date the oil leak began is unknown, but biologist think that it began before last Thursday's rain, since oil is located high on the bank from when the creek flooded.

"The community can help by giving all of the agencies access to areas that need cleanup so they can get their job done without delay," Freeman said. "We are monitoring the situations, and we are looking out for the citizens interest as well as the health of the wildlife and plant life along the creek."

Sheriff Bryan Weatherford also extended a thank you to all of the local, state and government agencies involved with the clean up and care of Otter Creek.

Freeman said that cleanup could take a couple of weeks to complete, but no official date has been set.