- The Unified Command is responding to a release of crude oil near Edwardsville, Illinois, from a Marathon Pipe Line (MPL) pipeline.
- Upon detecting the release Friday morning, March 11, MPL shut down the pipeline and deployed response resources.
- Crude oil reached the Cahokia diversion channel, and MPL has deployed boom at eight locations along the channel to contain it.
- No injuries have been reported.
- There have been reports of odors near areas affected by the release, and MPL continues to deploy air monitoring in the area as a precaution. Air monitoring has detected no hazardous level of emissions.
- There are no water intakes in the immediate vicinity of the release.
- MPL is dedicating personnel and the following equipment to the Unified Command response, which are both on site and on the way:
- 7 skimmers: equipment that remove oil from water
- 42 vacuum trucks: equipment that removes oil and water
- 3 tanker trucks: to store oily water for proper disposal
- 6 excavation equipment: to expose the pipeline and remove contaminated soil
- More than 4,000 feet of boom: to contain the oil on the water
- Unified Command is working with, and providing regular updates to, representatives from
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- The federal Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- The National Transportation Safety Board
- The U.S. Coast Guard
- Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
- Edwardsville Fire Department
- Illinois Emergency Management Agency
- Madison County Emergency Management Agency
- Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
- Unified Command has identified some impacted wildlife that have been affected by oil and are being treated by experts on site. If any member of the public encounters wildlife that has been impacted by oil, they should not approach the animals themselves, as they could be dangerous. Please call Madison County, Illinois, Conservation Officer Robert Liebl at 618-444-1540.
- The initial estimate is that approximately 3,000 barrels has spilled. This estimate is subject to revision as cleanup and repair activities continue.
- As of 5:30 p.m. Central Time Saturday, March 12, approximately 2,200 barrels of oil have been recovered.
- Unified Command’s top priorities are to ensure the safety of responders, the community and to limit environmental impact as we respond to the release and conduct cleanup activities.
- An investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the release.
Unified Command has established a website with updated information: www.mpcresponds.news