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SUNOCO CREWS RECOVER BULK OF CRUDE OIL SPILLED AT HEINZ REFUGE

March 9, 2000 By BILL BUCHANAN

TINICUM -- With more than 173,000 gallons of crude oil having been recovered from the spill due to a leak in the 24-inch pipeline at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge last month, crews for Sunoco have gone about as far as they can in collecting any large volumes of oil. According to Tom Crawford, Sunocos on-site coordinator, what is left of the cleanup will involve a more passive approach to collect residual oil that has been left along the impoundment shoreline, in the soil and on vegetation within the impacted area.

The methods will include allowing absorbent materials to soak up oil, and, as needed, using the few vacuum pumps and skimming equipment still on site. The impacted area, approximately one to one and a half acres in size, includes: a portion of the 145-acre lake-like impoundment, which remains encircled with oil booms, the excavation pit where the damaged oil pipeline is located, and the surrounding shoreline and land that consists of a wooded area leading to the thickly vegetated impoundment shoreline.

Currently crews are still testing the repaired pipeline, which leaked the oil that was first discovered Feb. 5. Environmental trustees, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the Pennsylvania Department Environmental Protection, Sunocos contractor, Entrix, and the Tri-State Bird Rescue, continue to monitor the cleanup and restoration efforts.

To date, approximately 20 turtles, two bullfrogs, two dozen fish and one muskrat have been impacted by the spill.

http://www.delcotimes.com/donews5.htm

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-- Dee (Dee360Degree@aol.com), March 09, 2000