Category Archives: Response Update

UC transition statement, May 5

Date: 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Contact: Joint Information Center (907) 834-6990

2020 Valdez Marine Terminal Admin Sump Incident Update: Unified Command transition

The response to the ValdezMarine Terminal (VMT) Admin Sump Incident continues as the footprint of the work and workforce involved continue shrinking. With the initial control and recovery phase completed, the work has transitioned to ongoing investigation and remediation of the impacted areas. Reflecting that, the Unified Command – comprised of representatives from Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, the United States Coast Guard and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation – has officially concluded as of May 5.

Moving forward, Alyeska will lead this project, and it will do so with considerable input and oversight by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, the U.S. Coast Guard and other regulatory agencies as appropriate.

Outflow is no longer entering Port Valdez at the VMT small boat harbor after a temporary oily water transfer pipeline was connected and became operational on Sunday. The pipeline is delivering oily water from the oil/water separator at the water’s edge to the VMT’ s Ballast Water Treatment facility.

The work is evolving as the impacted area has decreased by more than three -quarters and the majority of response vessels have been decommissioned. On water, the sheen is entirely contained by boom. Crews continue beach cleanup tactics along the rocky shoreline close to the outflow point near the VMT small boat harbor.

The spill source was identified as a sump located about a quarter -mile uphill from the VMT small boat harbor. The sump was isolated and secured on April 13. TAPS operations have not been impacted. An in-depth investigation of the spill is ongoing and is not part of the response.

For more information, contact Kate.Dugan@alyeska-pipeline.com.

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Overflight May 4

UC transition statement, May 5

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Response Update May 4, 2 p.m.

Injuries/Incidents, previous 72 hours 0/0
Barrels of oil and water recovered, total 1,350 barrels (56,700 gal.)
Total metered oil:

On water, On land, Total

 On water: ~16 barrels (635 gal.)

On land: Less than 1 barrel (30 gal.)

Total: ~17 barrels (665 gal.)
Spill contained by boom? Yes
Responders ~150
New wildlife impacts 0
Vessels of Opportunity 1
Numerous excavations ongoing to determine flow path

Outflow is no longer entering Port Valdez at the Valdez Marine Terminal (VMT) small boat harbor after a temporary oily water transfer pipeline was connected and became operational on Sunday. The pipeline is delivering oily water from the oil/water separator at the water’s edge to the VMT’s Ballast Water Treatment facility.

On water, recovery efforts are ongoing. The area of active recovery has reduced over the course of the response. Boom currently in use is around 9,370 feet, down from more than 26,000 feet during the response’s peak activity.

On shore, excavations continue to verify the flow path from the sump spill source to the VMT small boat harbor. Crews are conducting the cold-water deluge technique to wet and clean the surface of the impacted shoreline at the VMT small boat harbor.

The source of the spill, isolated and secured on Monday, April 13, was a sump located about a quarter-mile uphill from the harbor.

Response Update May 4, 2 p.m.

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Response Update May 1, 5:30 p.m.

2020 Valdez Marine Terminal Admin Sump Incident Update

Injuries/Incidents, previous 24 hours 0/0 incident
Barrels of oil and water recovered, total 1,276 barrels (53,592 gal.)
Total metered oil: 

On water, On land, Total

 On water: ~16 barrels (686 gal.) 

On land: Less than 1 barrel (30 gal.)

Total: ~17 barrels (716 gal.)
Sheen contained by boom? Yes
Responders Less than 170
New wildlife impacts 0
Vessels of Opportunity 1

A system at the shoreline is capturing sheen from the outflow of a pipe carrying snowmelt and rainwater before it enters the Valdez Marine Terminal (VMT) small boat harbor.

On water, recovery efforts are ongoing. The boomed area impacted by the sheen continues decreasing.

The source of the spill, isolated and secured on Monday, April 13, was a sump located about a quarter-mile uphill from the harbor.

The next update to this site is scheduled for Monday, May 4.

Response Update May 1, 5:30 p.m.

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Response Update April 30, 5 p.m.

 

Injuries/Incidents, previous 24 hours 0/1 incident*
Barrels of oil and water recovered, total 1,254 barrels (52,668 gal.)**
Total metered oil: 

On water, On land, Total

 On water: ~15 barrels (635 gal.) 

On land: Less than 1 barrel (30 gal.)

Total: ~16 barrels (665 gal.)
Sheen contained by boom? Yes
Responders ~170
New wildlife impacts 0
Vessels of Opportunity 1
Numerous excavations ongoing to determine flow path

* An operational incident reported per Alyeska policy that did not impact response nor result in equipment damage. An individual slipped and fell while boarding a vessel, was evaluated and released back to work. A coworker assisting them to their feet felt a strain, was evaluated by a medic and released to work. No medical care was required at this time.

** Recovery numbers from 4/29 were incorrect and over-reported recovered liquids by 10 barrels. Recovery numbers today are confirmed.

A system at the shoreline is capturing sheen from the outflow of a pipe carrying snowmelt and rainwater before it enters the Valdez Marine Terminal (VMT) small boat harbor.

On water, recovery efforts are ongoing. Vessel of Opportunity boats and crews that are no longer required have been released. Participants are now down to one vessel from a high of 19 at the response’s peak. The boomed area impacted by the sheen continues decreasing; it’s less than three-quarters of its original size. The current amount of deployed boom has been reduced to 17,720 feet from its maximum deployment of more than 26,000 feet.

The source of the spill, isolated and secured on Monday, April 13, was a sump located about a quarter-mile uphill from the harbor.

Response Update April 30, 5 p.m

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Response Update April 29, 6 p.m.

Date: 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, 2020

2020 Valdez Marine Terminal Admin Sump Incident Update

Injuries/Incidents, previous 24 hours 0/0
Barrels of oil and water recovered, total 1,253 barrels (52,626 gal.)
Total metered oil: 

On water, On land, Total

 On water: ~15 barrels (635 gal.) 

On land: Less than 1 barrel (30 gal.)

Total: ~16 barrels (665 gal.)
Spill contained by boom? Yes
Responders ~170
New wildlife impacts 0
Vessels of Opportunity 1
Numerous excavations ongoing to determine flow path

A system at the shoreline is capturing sheen from the outflow of a pipe carrying snowmelt and rainwater before it enters the Valdez Marine Terminal (VMT) small boat harbor.

On water, recovery efforts are ongoing. Non-essential Vessel of Opportunity boats and crews have been released. Participants are now down to one vessels from a high of 19 at the response’s peak. The boomed area impacted by the sheen continues decreasing; it’s less than three-quarters of its original size. The current amount of deployed boom has been reduced to 17,720 feet from its maximum deployment of more than 26,000 feet.

The source of the spill, isolated and secured on Monday, April 13, was a sump located about a quarter-mile uphill from the harbor. Excavations continue to identify the flow path, as well.

Response Update April 29, 6 p.m.

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Response Update April 28, 4:30 p.m.

Date: 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, 2020

2020 Valdez Marine Terminal Admin Sump Incident Update

Injuries/Incidents, previous 24 hours 0/0
Barrels of oil and water recovered, total 1,234 barrels (51,828 gal.)
Total metered oil: 

On water, On land, Total

 On water: ~15 barrels (635 gal.) 

On land: Less than 1 barrel (30 gal.)

Total: ~16 barrels (665 gal.)
Spill contained by boom? Yes
Responders ~200
New wildlife impacts 0
Vessels of Opportunity 5
Numerous excavations ongoing to determine flow path

A system at the shoreline is removing sheen from the outflow of the spill source before it enters the Valdez Marine Terminal (VMT) small boat harbor. This system ties into the pipe carrying snowmelt and rainwater and helps capture the sheen before it gets to the small boat harbor. Further work to divert outflow from the pipe to other containment before it reaches the shoreline system continues.

On water, recovery efforts are ongoing. The boomed area impacted by the sheen has been decreased by more than three-quarters of its original size. On shore, excavations are underway to verify the flow path from the sump spill source to the harbor.

The source of the spill, isolated and secured on Monday, April 13, was a sump located about a quarter-mile uphill from the harbor.

Response Update April 28, 4:30 p.m.

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Response Update April 26, 5:45 p.m.

Date: 5:45 p.m. Sunday, April 26, 2020

2020 Valdez Marine Terminal Admin Sump Incident Update

Injuries/Incidents 0 reported/2incidents*
Barrels of oily water recovered 1181 barrels (49,602 gal.)
Total metered oil 590 gal.
Spill contained by boom? Yes
Responders ~240
New wildlife impacts 0
Vessels of opportunity 9
Numerous excavations ongoing to determine flow path

* Two operational incidents reported per Alyeska policy that did not impact response nor result in equipment damage.

The source of the spill, isolated and secured on Monday, April 13, was a sump located about a quarter-mile uphill from the Valdez Marine Terminal small boat harbor. On water, recovery efforts continue, and the impacted area has decreased by more than two-thirds. Excavations are underway on land to find the flow path from the sump to the harbor. A pipe carrying snow melt and rain water was identified as the outflow of the spill, and a system is now in place to remove the sheen before the water enters the harbor.

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Response Update April 25, 4 p.m.

Date: 4 p.m. Saturday, April 25, 2020

2020 Valdez Marine Terminal Admin Sump Incident Update

Injuries/Incidents 0 reported
Barrels of oily water recovered 1155 barrels (48,510 gal.)
Total metered oil 590 gal.
Spill contained by boom? Yes
Responders ~240
New wildlife impacts 0
Vessels of opportunity 13
Numerous excavations ongoing to determine flow path

The source of the spill, isolated and secured on Monday, April 13, was a sump located about a quarter-mile uphill from the Valdez Marine Terminal small boat harbor. On water, recovery efforts continue, and the impacted area has decreased by more than two-thirds. Excavations are underway on land to find the flow path from the sump to the harbor. A pipe carrying snow melt and rain water was identified as the outflow of the spill, and a system is now in place to remove the sheen before the water enters the harbor.

Response Update April 25, 345 p.m.

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