3/30/06 - CONSENT AGREEMENT ISSUED, ASSESSING A PENALTY OF OF $13,519. PAYMENT TO BE MADE WITHIN 30 DAYS TO US COAST GUARD.
ALLEGATIONS: ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 22, 2004, ANIMAL FAT WAS RELEASED FROM MURPHY-BROWN'S BLADENBORO FACILITY IN BLADENBORO, NC, AND INTO AT LEAST REEDY BRANCH AND BRYAND SWAMP.
THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FAT RELEASED FROM FAT TANK #2 WAS APPROX 20,000 GALLONS AND REMEDIATION CONTINUED FROM DISCOVERY OF THE SPILL ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 22, 2004 UNTIL APPROX SEPTEMBER 17, 2004. APPROX 15,000 GALLONS OF ANIMAL FAT REACHED A SEASONALLY DRY DRAINAGE DITCH THAT CONNECTS TO REEDY BRANCH AND BRYANT SWAMP.
THE ANIMAL FAT WAS OBSERVED IN REEDY BRANCH AND BRYANT SWAMP. THE FIRST APPROX 1,000 FEE OF THE DRAINAGE DITCH NEAREST THE FACILITY CONTAINED A FAT COVER OF APPROX 3-6 INCHES IN DEPTH. BEYOND THIS POINT, THE NEXT, APPROX 3,700 FEET, INCLUDING PARTS OF REEDY BRANCH, CONTAINED A THIN COVERING OF FAT AND/OR GREASE. FAT OR SHEENS WERE ALSO OBSERVED IN BRYANT SWAMP. MURPHY-BROWN WORKED DILIGENTLY TO RESPOND TO THE SPILL WITH REMEDIATION AND MITIGATION EFFORTS. MURPHY-BROWN ALSO UNDERTOOK SEVERAL VOLUNTARY PROJECTS AIMED AT PREVENTING AND/OR MINIMIZING THE IMPACT OF ANY FUTURE SPILLS.