Hot Sites

Monday, February 9, 2009
10:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The Hot Sites Forum provides OSCs an opportunity to learn from the most recent case studies of regional activities related to a response at an oil site, an emergency response, and a time-critical removal action.  The 2009 Hot Sites feature:

Iowa Flood Response

Randy Schademann, OSC, EPA Region 7

The Iowa flood of 2008, which began in early June, ultimately resulted in Presidential Disaster Declarations in 85 of Iowa’s 99 counties.  The widespread flooding, which also impacted neighboring states, was described by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local emergency management officials as one of the most devastating disasters to hit the Midwest in decades.  EPA Region 7 personnel coordinated closely with local, state, and federal agencies, successfully developing a unified command structure that executed mission objectives efficiently, minimized duplication of efforts, and reduced costs.  EPA implemented and continuously modified an Incident Management Team (IMT) structure based strictly on field needs—functional units were only added when needed to support the field mission assignments, while working closely with state and local authorities to provide extraordinary leverage in the response.  For example, local jurisdictions set up and managed satellite HazMat collection areas that fed into EPA-led staging areas; flood water and sediment sampling conducted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources was used to prepare coordinated health advisories; and Civil Support Teams, volunteer organizations, and many others provided manpower and other assets.  In addition, a large percentage of the over 200,000 items collected during the response were recycled or reused.  In the end, out of $6.25 million mission assigned to EPA, only $3.85 million was spent.

Vermont Mill Properties Site—Bennington, Vermont

Cathy Young, OSC, EPA Region 1

In response to a call received at EPA Region 1 Emergency Operations Center from a concerned citizen about the storage of a tear gas agent at a restored mill in Bennington, Vermont, OSC Young conducted a joint site investigation with representatives from the EPA Region 1 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) programs. The restored mill contained several businesses, including a company that currently manufactures and distributes tear gas and pepper spray products. The site investigation resulted in a determination of a need to conduct a removal action because of the improper storage of over 55,000 pounds of 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile (CS-1), several containers of explosive black powder and hundreds of improperly stored drums and containers. The restored mill is located in a densely populated residential area. EPA RCRA, EPA EPCRA, EPA Criminal Investigations Division, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Department of Transportation, and several state and local agencies also were involved in the investigation. EPA also worked with the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Facility at the Aberdeen Proving Ground to obtain information on CS-1, a tear gas agent that ceased being manufactured in the 1960s.

The removal action resulted in the staging and selected sampling of over 700 containers for potential disposal. Final disposal included several hundred containers, over 55,000 pounds of CS-1, and several drums of explosive powder.

Greka Oil Spills 2008 Area Command

Robert Wise, OSC, EPA Region 9

Beginning in January 2008, OSCs Robert Wise, Chris Weden, Will Duncan, Dan Suter, Jason Musante, and Michelle Rogow responded to a series of oil spills from Greka Oil and Gas in the northern Santa Barbara County Area, California. Because of the immense amount of spills that happened simultaneously at different Greka sites, OSC Wise instituted an Area Command with the California Department of Fish and Game and Santa Barbara County. Throughout 2008, EPA responded to over 17 spills of crude oil and hazardous substances. During this time frame EPA issued 17 Notices of Federal Intent (NOFI), two CERCLA General Notices, five 311c Clean Water Act Orders, and one CERCLA Administrative Order of Consent (AOC). EPA conducted oversight on 15 of the spills and took over to complete the cleanup on one of the spills. The Hot Site will describe the spills, discuss the area command structure, discuss the Rapanos Decision issues, and discuss the state legislation signed as a result of these spills, press relations, and enforcement. Highlights of the most significant spills will be presented.