Cleanup of Corpus Christi Bay oil spill 'largely complete,' Flint Hills Resources says

Editor's note: This story was updated after initial publication to correct an erroneous statement from a U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson about a turtle's cause of death in Corpus Christi Bay. Officials believe the turtle died as a result of being cold-stunned.

The multi-agency cleanup and recovery effort in response to an oil spill into Corpus Christi Bay is “largely complete” but will remain ongoing as crude is reported, according to officials and a Wednesday news release from Flint Hills Resources.

The spill, first reported on Dec. 24, originated from a pipe failure at Flint Hills Resources’ Ingleside crude oil terminal and was initially estimated to be 90 barrels, or 3,800 gallons, of light crude. Days later, after further analysis, the Koch Industries-owned company expanded its estimation to 335 barrels, or 14,000 gallons.

No “significant material or addressable sheen” has been confirmed since Tuesday, according to the company’s news release. Light crude takes on a unique appearance and may resemble yellow “popcorn” or appear to be a small pebble of paraffin or wax.

Thirteen birds have died due to exposure to crude oil since the event occurred, according to the statement. One turtle was treated for potential exposure to the spill, said Lt. j.g. James Mahoney, assistant incident management chief of U.S. Coast Guard, Corpus Christi sector. One turtle was found dead, but officials believe it died as a result of being cold-stunned.

Earlier this month: Nearly 300 cold-stunned green sea turtles rescued and released, Texas State Aquarium says

The response, which has included the use of foot patrols, boats, drones, airplanes and helicopters, has largely centered on areas around North Beach, where the most crude has appeared and been recovered since the spill, Mahoney said.

Once the cleanup nears completion, both the Coast Guard and the Texas General Land Office, with assistance from Flint Hills Resources, will conduct a joint investigation into how the spill occurred, Mahoney said, adding that the environmental impacts will continually be assessed by the Coast Guard, the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife and NOAA Fisheries, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“There'll be ongoing meetings between all (agencies), especially as we see if any more wildlife is impacted. … Only time is going to tell with that this early in it,” he said. “It's hard to say if there's going to be an impact or not.”

The booms remaining in the waters around Corpus Christi and Nueces bays will stay as a precaution until they are removed in coordination with authorities as operations wind down, according to a Flint Hills Resources news release on Wednesday.

The effectiveness of the cleanup effort is largely contingent on weather conditions, which have been accommodating the last few days, said Raymond Oliveira, a director of the Texas General Land Office’s Oil Spill Prevention and Response program’s coastal South Texas regions.

As of Wednesday, he estimated that a total of about 145 barrels, or 6,090 gallons, have been recovered. “We’re not finding much recoverable product now, so it seems to be winding down,” he said in an interview.

Still, residents are encouraged to report any material or oil sheens they observe to the Flint Hills Resources Ingleside Response Center at 361-396-2831. To report possible impacts to property, the public can report claims by calling 1-800-254-1122.

In the meantime, Flint Hills Resources Ingleside Dock 5 remains idled, company spokesperson Andy Saenz said Tuesday.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Flint Hills: Cleanup of Corpus Christi Bay oil spill 'largely complete'