By the numbers: How common are oil spill incidents in Illinois and Missouri?
Early estimates by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency indicated about 165,000 gallons of oil spilled Friday in an Edwardsville pipeline leak. That estimate was updated Monday to reflect about 163,800 gallons, or 3,900 barrels of oil, spilled.
The leak entered into neighboring Cahokia Creek, and veterinarians were on site treating affected animals, the BND reported over the weekend.
As of Monday at 10 a.m., Marathon Pipe Line said about 5,900 barrels of oil-contaminated water had been recovered from the creek. The company also reported about 150 cubic yards of “oily soil” had also been removed.
Just how common are oil spills in the region?
How common are significant inland pipeline spills in Illinois, Missouri and nationally?
U.S. data:
In 2021, there were 138 “significant incidents” of onshore U.S. hazardous liquid spills, according to the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Hazardous liquid includes crude oil, refined petroleum products, highly volatile liquids, CO2 and biofuel. A significant incident is defined by the government agency as one that includes any of these qualifications, excluding fire first incidents:
- Fatality or injury requiring in-patient hospitalization
- $50,000 or more in total costs, measured in 1984 dollars
- Highly volatile liquid releases of five barrels or more, or other liquid releases of 50 barrels or more
- Liquid releases resulting in an unintentional fire or explosion
The 138 significant incidents in 2021 caused zero fatalities and one injury, and they cost $64,542,098. There were 51,826 barrels spilled in 2021, with 30,596 net barrels lost.
So far in 2022, the PHMSA has recorded 13 significant incidents and $3,028,023 in cost, but no deaths or injuries. This year, 4,355 barrels have spilled and 2,346 have been lost.
The following are five-year averages from the years of 2017 to 2021 for significant occurrences:
145 incidents per year
One fatality per year
Three injuries per year
$138,201,109 average annual cost
88,347 barrels spilled per year
53,870 net barrels lost per year
Illinois data:
2021:
Three significant incidents
No fatalities
No injuries
$1,604,838 total cost
1,102 barrels spilled
124 net barrels lost
2022 year-to-date:
One incident
No fatalities
No injuries
$203,934 in total cost
140 barrels spilled
No net barrels lost
Note: The Edwardsville incident has not yet been recorded in the system.
The following are the five-year averages for Illinois:
Five incidents per year
No fatalities
No injuries
$3,591,505 in average annual cost
2,117 barrels spilled per year
439 net barrels lost per year
Missouri Data:
2021:
Three incidents
No fatalities
No injuries
$1,584,547 in total cost
50 barrels spilled
One net barrel lost
2022 year-to-date:
No reported incidents
The following are five-year averages for Missouri:
Two incidents per year
No fatalities
No injuries
$5,174,107 in average annual cost
112 barrels spilled per year
One net barrel lost per year
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency spokesperson Kim Biggs said that while the Illinois EPA does not maintain a listing or ranking of oil spills, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency has an online database where users can search for incident reports or view all reports.
This story was originally published March 14, 2022 at 2:18 PM.