EPA Region 7 was notified by a private citizen of an oil spill from an oil field production lease in Wellsville, Kansas on March 4, 2025, at approximately 2:45pm. The caller stated that oil was flowing from the production lease across a county gravel road and down the adjacent county road ditch toward an unnamed tributary of Turkey Creek in Miami County, Kansas.
An EPA OSC mobilized to the site on March 4 to assess the situation and evaluate response operations. Upon arriving at the site, the OSC met with the Miami County Emergency Manager and identified an oil production pump jack as the source of the oil spill. Approximately 50-100 gallons of crude oil was observed surrounding the pump jack and had flowed across East Turkey Creek Road and to the north approximately 150 feet. Wet ground and precipitation were contributing to the migration of oil at the site. EPA determined that without intervention, the oil would impact the unnamed tributary of Turkey Creek which was actively flowing at the time due to recent precipitation.
EPA coordinated response activities with Miami County Emergency Management personnel. The spill source was secured and Miami County constructed earthen berms to provide containment. On March 5, 2025, the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) arrived on site to coordinate and oversee the remaining oil collection activities. No further EPA activities are planned for the site.
