EPA facilitates BP cleanup efforts at Prudhoe Bay site

EPA order allows BP to treat groundwater contamination at Old Tuboscope site without requesting annual approval

Tom Hall

PNA staff writer

On Aug. 18, groundwater contamination management and treatment got a little easier — procedurally, at least — at the Old Tuboscope site in Prudhoe Bay. BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency agreed to cleanup terms whereby BP can repermit the cleanup project without having to go back to the EPA for annual approvals.

BP Exploration (Alaska) spokesman Ronnie Chappell told PNA that Tuboscope was a company that operated a gravel pad back in the 1970s. After their shop burned down in 1982, operations on the pad ceased. Subsequently, waste from pipe thread cleaning solvents (1,1,1-trichloroethane, or TCA) contaminated groundwater on the pad.

EPA environmental scientist Kim Ogle of the Region 10 office in Seattle said that agencies were notified of the problem as early as 1983 and at least four or five thorough studies have been completed since.

Chappell said that beginning in the mid-90s, BP began recovering the runoff (from melting snow and ice) and treating it using a method called charcoal absorption.

“After treating the collected groundwater by carbon absorption, it is expected to be free of solvent waste. BP plans to reuse the clean, treated groundwater in their oilfield production process,” the EPA said in a statement.

Ogle added, “It’s possible that natural processes could render the TCA below risk level. We will reevaluate (the order) with 2 to 5 years to determine if the process is working. If it isn’t, we may have to look at complete source removal.”