COLONIAL PIPELINE CO

Incident Narrative

"ON MARCH 2, 2011 DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION OF THE WORK AREA AROUND TANK 917, THE CONTRACT CREW WAS PREPARING TO PUMP WATER OUT OF THE EXCAVATION AROUND THE SPOOL PIECE. IT HAD RAINED THE NIGHT BEFORE SO THE AREA DUG OUT AROUND THE TANK VALVE HAD FILLED WITH RAIN WATER. THE WORKERS BEGAN TO PUMP THE RAIN WATER OUT OF VALVE PIT. DURING INITIAL PUMPING THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ANY VISIBLE SHEEN ON THE WATER. THE CONTRACTOR DECIDED TO GO GET ADDITIONAL TOOLS FROM HIS TRUCK WHILE THE WATER WAS BEING PUMPED OUT. WHEN HE RETURNED TO CHECK ON THE LEVEL OF WATER REMAINING IN THE AREA, HE NOTICED GASOLINE WAS STREAMING AT A STEADY FLOW DOWN AROUND THE BOTTOM OF THE SPOOL PIECE FLANGE ONTO THE MUD BELOW. CONTRACTOR IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED INSPECTOR AND OPERATOR AT MITCHELL AND BEGAN TO COLLECT PRODUCT INTO WASH BASIN UNDERNEATH FLANGE SPOOL PIECE. HE CUT OFF WATER PUMP AND BEGAN TO PLACE DIAPERS ALONG THE DISCHARGE HOSE FROM PUMP. THE OPERATORS BEGAN OPENING DRAIN LINES TO EVACUATE TANK LINE 917. INITIAL NOTIFICATION WAS MADE TO THE OPERATIONS MANAGER AT 09:10, THE ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICIAN AT 09:30 AND DISTRICT ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER 09:40. A TOTAL OF 15 GALLONS OF PRODUCT WAS RECOVERED. AN ADDITIONAL 4 GALLONS WAS LOST TO EVAPORATION FROM THE SPILL SURFACE."