Newport pipeline leak
Community meeting and information bulletin Newport pipeline leak – One Year On
EPA distributed a community bulletin to local residents during the last week of November 2007, providing updated community information on the leak and the future clean up activities.
Download the Community Bulletin 
EPA also held a community meeting on 6 December 2007 to discuss management of the leak and any community concerns. The purpose of the meeting was to provide an update summary of progress with the clean-up, listen to community’s experiences and expectations and discuss future actions. A number of action items came out of this meeting in addition to plans for further community meetings during 2008.
Download the notes from the community meeting
EPA are currently planning community meetings for 2008. The next community meeting is expected to be held in late February / early March 2008. Local residents will be notified of this meeting. Details for community meetings will also be provided on this web site once they are finalised.
January 2008 update
Since December 2006 when a leak of petrol was detected from a Mobil Pipeline in Newport, significant investigation and clean up works have been undertaken. These works are being directed through a Clean Up Notice issued by EPA.
Actions taken include:
- testing of air quality by both EPA and Mobil;
- testing of drinking water by City West Water;
- installation and testing of approximately 150 groundwater monitoring and petrol extraction wells;
- appointment of an Environmental Auditor;
- completion of a detailed health risk assessment;
- recovery of approximately 255,000 litres of petrol;
- completion of pipeline integrity testing;
- initial delineation of the extent of the petrol plume;
- completion of the environmental audit report
- completion of the clean-up plan
Mobil advised EPA that the environmental audit report (due by 31 July 2007) and the Clean Up Plan (due by 31 August 2007) were each one month behind schedule. Mobil stated that this extra time was requested by the Auditor, to allow the submission of a comprehensive and complete report that fully addresses all environmental risks.
EPA received the Environmental Audit Report on Friday 31 August 2007 and the clean-up plan on Friday 28 September 2007. These reports were required under the Clean Up Notice issued to Mobil Refining Australia Pty. Ltd. on 9 February 2007.
The Environmental Audit Report identified the extent of the plume, and confirmed that the contamination does not currently present any unacceptable risk to human health. The audit outlines safety measures necessary for workers involved with any sub-surface works. The report also contained recommendations for future monitoring and clean-up works.
- Download the Environmental Audit Report (Adobe PDF file, 1437KB or 1.4MB)
- Download the Environmental Audit Report appendix (Adobe PDF file, 664KB)
- Download the Environmental Audit Report figures (Adobe PDF file, 45596KB or 45.6MB)
- Download the Environmental Audit Report plates (Adobe PDF file, 3332KB or 3.3MB)
The clean-up plan addresses requirements of the EPA Clean Up Notice and the recommendations of the environmental audit. Specifically the plan:
- Highlights that the remediation program will take several years to complete due to the complex geological site conditions, the nature and size of the spill, and mixed local land uses.
- Identifies priority clean-up areas as residential properties and the southern, down gradient areas of the contamination.
- Proposes an integrated site-specific remediation strategy using a range of clean-up technologies.
Whilst EPA are in support of the overall clean up approach proposed, EPA requested Mobil resubmit their initial clean up plan to provide further information and make amendments to the plan. Further information requested by EPA included:
- Information on the configuration and performance of the proposed waste water treatment plant.
- Information on the commissioning and operation of the proposed waste water treatment plant.
- Information on the proposed reinjection of treated groundwater.
- Demonstration that the proposed clean-up plan complies with applicable State Environment Protection Policy
EPA received the resubmitted clean up plan on 15 January 2008. EPA are currently assessing the plan.
A copy of the clean-up plan (also referred to as the Remediation Action Plan) received by EPA on 28 September can be downloaded here (PDF file, 13,385KB) The revised clean-up plan will be available on this website once it is approved by EPA.
On-site clean-up activities are continuing in the interim. EPA will continue to manage the clean-up activities via a Clean Up Notice.
Mobil can be contacted through the Mobil Refinery Hotline Phone: 1800 659 527.
Background
On 6 December 2006, EPA Victoria was contacted by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) in relation to petroleum odours in the area of Challis Street, Newport.
Investigations into the odour found hydrocarbons entering an underground storm water drain near the corner of Champion Road and Market Street. Sampling of the storm water drain confirmed the presence of unleaded petrol. Using underground cameras, the petrol was found to be entering the storm water drain via a leaking joint seal beneath Champion Road.
To minimise odours, vapours and potential impacts on the community and to waterways, the storm water drain along Market Street was flushed and liquid (fuel/water mixture) extracted on 11 December 2006.
A number of petroleum pipelines are present in the area along the north and south side of the railway line that intersects Champion Road in Newport.
On 12 December 2006, Victoria Police set up a Municipal Coordination Centre, under the Emergency Management Act, as part of a multi-agency response to the fuel leak incident.
EPA and Hobsons Bay City Council worked with both Shell and Mobil and the emergency service agencies to assess the integrity of underground sections of the petroleum pipelines and manage the presence of any leaks.
On 12 December 2006, Mobil notified the authorities of a pipeline failure near the railway crossing on Champion Road, approximately 300 metres from the initial reports of odours.
Attachment 1 below shows the approximate location of the pipeline leak in relation to the surrounding area.
On 19 December 2006 emergency service agencies considered the environment safe for community members and so the Coordination Centre left the area.
Under EPA direction, Mobil has been continuing clean up and monitoring since this time to reduce odours and environmental impacts. These clean up measures include:
- Interception and removal of fuel and vapours from in and around the underground storm water drain in Market Street;
- Flushing and removal of fuel contaminated storm water from the storm water drain in Market Street;
- Removal of fuel product from contaminated groundwater through dedicated groundwater extraction wells; and
- Ongoing vapour monitoring.
Results of monitoring show that these actions are proving effective in reducing odour impacts and confirm that there is still no risk to human health from the odours.
The implementation of these actions since December 2006 has resulted in improved environmental conditions in the area. Since early April 2007, it has not been necessary for Mobil to flush the storm water drain and remove fuel contaminated storm water. Mobil continue to monitor the storm water system for fuel odours and vapours.
These actions will continue until EPA is satisfied that there is no potential impact on the community and environment.
A substantial amount of work has been undertaken since December 2006 to understand the extent of the impact on soil and groundwater in the area and to determine ongoing clean-up actions. Mobil have drilled between 60 and 70 wells to delineate the petrol plume and recover product. Full clean up is expected to take a number of years.
Site assessment and clean-up
At this stage it is unknown how much petrol product leaked from the pipeline, however the completed environmental audit report will provide more detail about the extent and scale of the petrol leak.
So far, many thousands of liters of petrol have been removed from soil and groundwater in the area. Some of this volume is a mixture of water and hydrocarbon product.
On 9 February 2007 EPA issued Mobil with a Clean Up Notice (‘the Notice’) in relation to soil and groundwater contamination.
The Notice requires active clean up of the leaked petrol, prevention of further spreading of pollution and testing of other pipelines in the area.
A summary of the required actions and progress against the timelines of the Notice can be found below.
The actions that Mobil are undertaking with respect to the Notice, require ongoing works in the area. Mobil is carrying out further inspection and replacement works on its underground pipelines in the area.
Investigations undertaken by Mobil have identified the presence of hydrocarbons in the groundwater in a number of groundwater bores (see Attachment 1 below).
Clean up will be complex and will take several years to complete. Mobil are currently installing a network of groundwater clean-up technologies to remove petrol from the groundwater table.
Groundwater is located six to ten metres below ground level in the area and is not commonly used or interacted with by residents, businesses or local industries.
The Clean Up Notice issued requires Mobil to fully define the extent of contamination from the pipeline leak by 31 July 2007.
Figure 1 details the approximate area in which petrol has been detected in groundwater wells as at July 2007.
Air monitoring
On 12 December 2006 EPA undertook specialised precautionary air quality monitoring for the presence of petrol compounds such as benzene, toluene and xylene in the residential area near Market Street and Challis Street.
These compounds are highly odorous and may be detected by smell well before reaching levels that might affect health.
The levels measured by EPA were well below the levels of detection and at less than one per cent of the acceptable levels for human health.
Since that time, EPA has required Mobil to undertake clean up measures to reduce air emissions, to manage odours and vapours, and undertake ongoing precautionary air monitoring in the area. The results so far show that the actions undertaken by Mobil have reduced vapours significantly from the levels that were previously assessed as posing a low health risk, by EPA.
Air emissions will continue to be monitored by Mobil and any increase detected will trigger additional management controls.
EPA also undertook air monitoring to confirm Mobil’s results.
In addition to this, Mobil was required to complete a health risk assessment by 31 March 2007 to provide more information about the possible risks posed by the petrol products in the soil and groundwater. The risk assessment completed concluded that there were no unacceptable human health risks resulting from the contamination of soil and groundwater from the pipeline leak.
Drinking water quality
In late January 2007, City West Water was notified of a petrol smell in the water supply of an industrial site situated in the vicinity of the December 2006 pipeline leak.
The water authority undertook water sampling and confirmed that, apart from the one industrial site, the water in the area is safe to drink and adheres to Australian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines.
City West Water provided alternative drinking water to the affected industrial site whilst the pipe work within the property was replaced. City West Water also replaced the pipe work in the vicinity of the site as a precautionary measure.
Community updates
EPA and Hobsons Bay City Council are committed to providing regular updates to the community.
EPA are currently planning community meetings for 2008. The next community meeting is expected to held in March 2008.
Local residents will be notified of this meeting. Details for community meetings will also be provided on this web site once they are finalised.
For further details contact Rolf Bjerkhamn of EPA on 9695 2630 or via email - rolf.bjerkhamn@epa.vic.gov.au.
Further information
For further information you can contact:
For environmental concerns
Rolf Bjerkhamn
EPA Victoria’s West Metropolitan Region
Phone: 9695 2630
For concerns about water quality
Georges Ruta
City West Water
Phone: 9313 8388 or 13WATER
For ongoing management of the issue
Mobil Refinery Hotline
Phone: 1800 659 527
For residents requiring further information in relation to health impacts
Eddie Knight
Hobsons Bay Council
Municipal Emergency Resource Officer
Phone: 0419 750 976
If you are feeling unwell and believe that it is a direct cause of the petrol leak then Hobsons Bay Council encourages you to see your local GP or the Council’s Medical Officer of Health:
Dr Murray Verso
107 Ferguson St,
Williamstown
Phone: 9367 1366
Related information
The pipeline safety function formerly managed by the Department of Primary Industries, was transferred to Energy Safe Victoria in April 2007.Information on the management of pipelines in Victoria can be obtained by contacting Energy Safe Victoria.
Attachment 1: Locality map
Click on the photo to enlarge
Timelines for actions required by EPA Clean Up Notice
19 February 2007
Submit an air quality monitoring plan to EPA for approval to monitor potential impacts of the leak on air quality
(now complete)
23 February 2007
Mobil must engage an environmental auditor appointed under the Environment Protection Act 1970 to prepare an environmental audit report
(now complete)
2 March 2007
Submit to EPA the proposed audit methodology. (now complete)
31 March 2007
Complete and submit a Health Risk Assessment. (now complete)
Complete further pipeline integrity tests on other underground sections of pipelines.
(Now complete)
13 April 2007
Submit to EPA a report on the outcomes of the pipeline integrity testing. (now
complete)
31 July 2007
Submit an environment audit report to EPA including the extent of groundwater contamination and recommendations to reduce environmental risk.
(received 31 August 2007, now complete)
31 August 2007
Submit to EPA for written approval a clean-up plan polluted land and groundwater, including an implementation timeline. (submitted 28 September 2007)
4 January 2008
Mobil to re-submit the revised clean-up plan to EPA for written approval.