Sunoco declares all crude oil recovered from spill

MOORINGSPORT – Approximately 4,100 of the 4,500 barrels of crude oil spilled from a broken pipeline into a Caddo Parish bayou last month has been recovered, bringing an end to the first phase of operations, Sunoco Logistics spokesman Jeff Shields said today in a news release.

The response has moved into the monitoring and maintenance phase that will have about 20 Sunoco personnel and contractors on site to monitor the area around Tete Bayou and continue protective measures, he said. At the height of the cleanup, more than 400 people were involved.

Additionally, state and federal regulators will make periodic inspections to ensure compliance with the cleanup.

The crude oil was released Oct. 13 from Sunoco's 1,000-mile long Mid-Valley Pipeline that crosses the parish south of Mooringsport on its route from Longview, Texas to Samaria, Mich. Cause of the pipeline break is still under investigation. However, repairs were made and oil began flowing thru it again by Oct. 26.

The oil spill, considered a "major" incident by the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection Agency, contaminated Tete Bayou and adjoining properties but was stopped shy of entering Caddo Lake. EPA, Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality personnel continued to keep an eye on the lake to ensure it remained oil free.

Shields explained in the news release that some of the oil – about 400 barrels – was not recoverable because of evaporation and natural dispersion.

The volume that did make it into the bayou was enough to kill an assortment of wildlife. As of Thursday, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries put the death count at 486, primarily fish, crawfish, amphibians and reptiles. Forty-seven were captured, cleaned and released.

"Sunoco Logistics will also begin developing a longer term restoration plan, in consultation with local landowners and state and federal regulators," Shields said in the release.

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