A UNIQUE INLAND OIL SPILL—GLENROCK, WYOMING

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Platte Pipeline rupture in April 1980 at Glenrock, Wyoming, spilled approximately 8,500 barrels of crude oil into the North Platte River. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region VIII and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Pacific Strike Team responded to the initial report that 150 bbl had been spilled. Not until 2 days later were they informed of the actual amount by Marathon Pipeline, the operator of the pipeline. The rupture occurred at approximately 0100 in the morning into a drainage ditch leading to the North Platte River, which runs with current velocities of approximately 1 to 12 knots (kt) in the 68 miles (mi) of river that was contaminated. The lack of proper containment in the local area and the extreme currents in which booms needed to be set created many problems. This report also touches on the environmentally sensitive areas, boom deployment problems, and the lack of adequately trained personnel during this spill. This particular incident had several qualities that were unique to past incidents involving the same type of product. The specific gravity of this crude was approximately 0.9129 at 60°F; however, the prevailing range of extreme temperatures for this time of year (20 to 90°F) caused the oil to react differently from day to day. The river current further complicated matters and posed another unique feature of the incident-containing oil in a high river flow rate. This paper addresses how these unique challenges were met, including techniques employed for containing the product and a description of several devices and methods used to recover and transport the product removed.