Document Ne3q612vGDqZY9qzdGb5G031D
Region 6 - Enforcement & Compliance Assurance Division
INSPECTION REPORT
Inspection Date(s): Media Program: Regulatory Program(s)
06/16/2023 Water Clean Water Act-National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (Brine)
Company Name: Facility Name: Facility Physical Location:
(city, state, zip code) Mailing address:
(city, state, zip code) County/Parish: Facility Phone Number Facility Contact:
Osage Nation
Arkansas River (Cleveland, Oklahoma)
Latitude: 36.327283, Longitude: -96.449339
Cleveland, OK, 74020
102 Midland Ave
Pawhuska, OK 74056
Osage
918-287-5333
Tom Ashmore
Project Specialist
cashmore@osagenation-nsn.gov
FRS Number: Identification/Permit Number: Media Identifier Number: NAICS: SIC:
n/a OKU002187 n/a 211111 1311
Personnel participating in inspection:
Matthew Allen
EPA/Region 6 ECDW
Inspector
EPA Lead Inspector Signature/Date
Supervisor Signature/Date
MATTHEW ALLEN Date: 2023.07.13 12:02:33 -05'00' Digitally signed by MATTHEW ALLEN
Matthew Allen
Date
ENOCH JOHNBULL Date: 2023.07.13 13:28:22 -05'00' Digitally signed by ENOCH JOHNBULL
Enoch Johnbull (acting)
Date
6ENFORM-019-R8.2 (02/12/2020)
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Section I - INTRODUCTION
Osage Nation Department of Natural Resources (DNR) / Arkansas River Inspection Date 06/16/2023
PURPOSE OF THE INSPECTION EPA Region 6 Inspector, Matthew Allen, arrived at the Arkansas River (EPA ID No. OKU002187) east of highway OK99 and north of Cleveland, OK at 09:00 a.m. on 06/16/2023 to investigate possible spill impacts which had been reported by the Osage Nation Department of Natural Resources (DNR), project specialist, Tom Ashmore. The inspection was conducted by the authority of the Clean Water Act (CWA) to determine compliance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. There was no other federal, state, or local agency representative present at the time of the inspection.
FACILITY DESCRIPTION EPA conducted an inspection along the Arkansas River, beginning east of highway OK99 immediately north of Cleveland, OK. The inspection continued upstream approximately 20 miles to the Arkansas River bridge at Blackburn, OK. The inspection continued downstream approximately 13 miles to Keystone Lake at Walnut Creek State Park near Prue, OK.
Section II - OBSERVATIONS I observed a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) field reading of 2,426 m/L (GPS: 36.327283, -96.449339) in the main channel of the Arkansas River at the location where Osage Nation representative Tom Ashmore reported observing possible spill impacts in the preceding days. All TDS readings were taken with a calibrated YSI Pro 30 Conductivity Meter.
Approximately 20 miles upstream from the initial observation point, near Blackburn, OK, I observed a TDS field reading of 2,504 mg/L (GPS: 36.377317, -96.591617) in the main channel of the Arkansas River.
Approximately 13 miles downstream from the initial observation location, at Walnut Creek State Park, I observed a TDS field reading of 1,026 mg/L (GPS: 36.234336, -96.279064) in the Arkansas River arm of Keystone Lake.
At the time of the inspection, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers data site, there was approximately 4,000 cubic feet per second (cf/s) (substantial) waterflow along the observed section of the Arkansas River.
Section III - AREAS OF CONCERN At the time of the inspection, I observed TDS field readings along the Arkansas River were higher than background/historical TDS levels typically observed in other surface waters across Osage County, Oklahoma. I was unable to identify any spill sources impacting the waterway at the time of the inspection.
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Osage Nation Department of Natural Resources (DNR) / Arkansas River Inspection Date 06/16/2023
Section IV - FOLLOW UP At the conclusion of the inspection, I spoke with Tom Ashmore via phone conversation. I explained my observations and we noted, that in comparison to other surface waters across the area, the TDS field readings observed along the Arkansas River were high. Tom planned to review historical TDS data from the Osage Nation surface water quality monitoring program, and we would continue to communicate about possible water quality concerns along the Arkansas River. Section V - LIST OF APPENDICES There are no appendices to this report.
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