Mocobizscene- Texas City officials have confirmed that over 150 barrels of crude oil have been successfully removed from Moses Bayou, following the recent discovery of a spill from an oil pumping station on the west side of the city. This significant progress comes just a week after the incident was first reported.
Authorities are currently uncertain about the exact amount of crude oil that was released from a defective oil-water separator at the location. Additionally, there has been no confirmation regarding the duration of the oil spill from the site.
According to Joe Tumbleson, the Emergency Management Coordinator for Texas City, various state, federal, and local agencies have been working together to coordinate the cleanup efforts since December 26th.
Residents near the oil facility alerted Texas City officials on Christmas Day after detecting a strong oil odor, according to Tumbleson.
Officials discovered the source of the oil after an extensive search. They determined that it originated from a defective oil-water separator located at a small oil facility near Moses Bayou on Century Boulevard.
Tumbleson informed the facility owner, Sawtooth Oil and Gas, about the spill. According to Tumbleson, the duration of the oil leakage from the facility remains unknown. According to him, the company officials clarified that the unmanned facility experienced a problem with its oil-water separator, resulting in an overflow.
The oil spilled from the small facility is approximately 200 feet away from the drainage ditch.
According to Tumbleson, the oil that is being released from the spill is classified as sweet crude oil. The waterway, although commonly referred to as a bayou on maps, is actually a drainage ditch known as Ditch No. 6. It holds the distinction of being the longest drainage ditch maintained by Galveston County Drainage District No. 2.
The area extends from the Lago Mar subdivision to the east, spanning behind Mainland City Centre and reaching all the way to Moses Lake in Texas City. The oil spill site is located near Century Boulevard, with the waterway passing through four subdivisions. According to Tumbleson, the oil has spread approximately half a mile from Century Blvd. to State Highway 3. So far, the impact on wildlife has been minimal.
Janie Acevedo-Beauchamp, an official from the Environmental Protection Agency, reported that a blue heron was rescued from the spill on Saturday. Tragically, despite efforts to save it, the heron later passed away. Acevedo-Beauchamp discovered a lifeless Belted Kingfisher as well.
According to reports, there have been no additional cases of negative effects on wildlife in the area. The Texas Game Wardens are actively monitoring the situation to ensure any potential impact on wildlife is closely tracked.
The nearby freshwater supply canals of the Gulf Coast Water Authority do not intersect or flow into the waterway. According to records, approximately 180 individuals reside within a 1/4-mile radius of the spill site. The drainage ditch, known as Moses Bayou, runs just a few yards away from multiple residential areas.
Residents have been expressing their concerns about the strong smell of oil in the area, but so far, there haven’t been any verified reports of people seeking medical assistance due to exposure.
According to Tumbleson, he expressed confidence in the effectiveness of the oil collection booms stationed at Highway 3. He stated that these booms successfully prevented any oil from reaching the environmentally sensitive wetlands area located between Highway 3 and State Highway 146.
Air monitoring in the area has not detected any harmful levels of chemicals in the air, apart from the strong smell of oil present.
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