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West Shore - Buckeye Pipeline Oil Spill Lockport

On December 13th and 14th of 2010 in Lockport IL, a discharge of crude oil was reported originating from a 12-inch West Shore pipeline. Around 78,000 gallons of crude oil was released into a drainage ditch which then flowed into a critical wetland area nearby.  Approximately 5.15 acres was directly impacted by the pooled oil, with an additional 48 acres contaminated by flooding due to high precipitation in the area diffusing oil components further. 

In accordance with the Oil Pollution Act (OPA) natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) regulations, natural resource Trustees set out to determine injuries, extent of damages, and develop/implement restoration projects that compensate the public for injuries to natural resources and services impacted by an incident.

Trustees Involved

  • The United States Fish and Wildlife Service

  • The Illinois Department of Natural Resources

  • The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency

The Trustees performed an injury assessment and concluded that the affected wetland, privately owned by Hanson Material Service Corp, was designated as a critical habitat conservation area. It was confirmed that this Incident resulted in significant and long-lasting injury to critical habitat for the Hines emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana) (HED), Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), and spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata).

The responsible parties, the Buckeye Partners, L.P. who owned the West Shore Pipeline Company, paid $7,200,000 to the Trustees to settle claims for natural resource injury. 

Summary of Response Actions

  • Pipeline shutdown on 12/14/2010.

  • A perimeter containment barrier was constructed beyond the farthest extent of visual oiling to prevent further migration. 

  • Soil borings, rock borings, and surface trenches were constructed to locate migrating oil.  

  • For lightly oiled areas, oil was recovered using vacuum trucks, skimmers, absorbent booms and pads, physical herding, and trench sumps.

  • Excavations to remove oiled soil, rock, and sediment occurred in 2011, 2012, and 2015. The US EPA estimates removed material contained approximately 2,000 gallons of oil.

  • Two boats outfitted with a water jet array, designed to hydraulically agitate sediments, were deployed for three weeks. This system “released” oil from sediment, allowing the oil to float to the surface where it could be recovered by skimmers and vacuum trucks. It is estimated this process recovered approximately 2,000 gallons of oil.

  • Groundwater monitoring wells were installed throughout the Site in March, June, and October 2011. 

  • Air quality was monitored at the Site to ensure the protection of workers. 

  • Systems to recover remaining oil included nine recovery sumps installed with nine stubs and drain tile in strategic locations. The sumps, stubs, and drain tile were removed in August 2019.

These response activities resulted in further injury to the effected natural resources. Best practices were utilized to minimize injury, but specific impacts because of response activities include: 

  • The perimeter containment barrier, constructed to prevent further oil migration, remained in place for 5 years.

  • Excavation and disposal of soil impacted 2.29 acres of HED Critical Habitat.

  • Roadway expansion 

Related Documents and Sites