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Charleston WV Chemical Leak

 
Site Contact:
Dennis Matlock
On-Scene Coordinator

(matlock.dennis@epa.gov)

Site Location:
1015 Barlow Street
Charleston, WV 25311
 response.epa.gov/CharlestonWVChemicalLeak

West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection discovered a chemical spill the afternoon of Thursday January 9th when investigating an odor complaint at Freedom Industries, which is the old Pennzoil Refinery.

The spilled chemical was a mixture including 4-methylcyclohexane methanol, which is used in coal preparation and processing. Spill into the ELK River occurred sometime earlier in the day and there was an early report of an odor. The Gov of WV declared a state of emergency for at least five counties. The Kanawha Valley Water Treatment Plant detected the chemical even after the increased carbon treatment effort.

West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is the lead for this incident and EPA On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs) are on-scene supporting them in their investigation. WV issued an order to not drink cook or bathe in the water, which affects approximately 100,000 customers (about 300,000 people). WV is conducting additional water sampling. The Civil Support Team is also deployed to the WVEOC to assist in supplying water to residents.

EPA On Scene Coordinators have the capabilities to bring a variety of emergency response services to a response in support of local municipalities--resources ranging from health advice support to equipment and personnel to conduct a cleanup. OSCs will determine what steps to take in support of WVDEP as assessment progresses, and at the request of our client, WVDEP. As is a regular part of business for EPA, OSCs are consulting with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) public health professionals on best approaches to safeguard human health.

EPA OSCs maintained EPA personnel assigned 24-7 friday 1/10/14 through saturday 1/11/14 as watchstanders (liasons to FEMA) to the FEMA Regional Office (FEMA Region 3) informed of the work on the ground. As of Sunday 1/12/14 FEMA no longer required EPA presence at their Regional Coordination Center, as their operations would be moved to Charleston to a local Emergency Operaitons Center. The EPA field team coordinates with FEMA at the local, EOC level. EPA has not been assigned a Mission Assignment to work under the National Response and continues to work under its own cleanup authority.


Click here to access the Region 4 website on the Ohio River MCHM Spill


    Clean Harbors continues to maintain the boom adjacent to the facility Water levels in the Elk River have greatly risen due to heavy recent precipitation Facility contractor collecting water sample from a seep on the slope below the north end of the tank farm. Excavation of the collection trench Placement of vacuum hoses in the collection trench Honeycomb box to be installed in the sump beneath the liner to be installed in the trench; hose attached Honeycomb box to be installed in the sump under the liner to be installed in the trench Following vacuum operations in the collection trench area Vacuum operations in the collection trench, as the water begins to thaw Elk River continues to thaw; boom remains in place along the shore adjacent to the facility Water collected in the containment trench begins to thaw, and vacuuming operations continue Elk River, beginning to thaw Elk River frozen, adjacent to the facility View inside the baker tanks, where the water collected from the Site is stored, pending treatment and/or disposal Water continues to be vacuumed out of the areas along the containment pad wall Excavation in the ditch in front of the facility in exploration of the source of the off-Site water EPA and WVDEP inspect the ditch that runs along the front of the facility Monitoring well located downgradient from the spill area Monitoring well located at the base of the slope, towards the southern end of the Site Collection of water from the pipe that runs beneath the containment pad Development of one of the monitoring wells Installation of silt fence and orange hi-vis fence along the base of the slope facility's contractors installing orange hi-vis fence along the river bank behind the facility Installation of silt fence along the base of the slope in the rear of the facility Deployment of the horizontal boom in the river Skimmer boom with interior absorbent boom deployed in the river, at the base of the slope behind the facility Pump utilized to draw the water from the interceptor trench to the tanker trucks for T&D Boom deployment at the Etowah River Terminal outfall Excavation of the interceptor trench located at the base of the slope of the facility View of collection trench area below tank area WVDEP Enforcement boat monitoring the river conditions Skimmer boom deployed downstream from the spill area Boom deployed in Elk River. EPA conducts air monitoring of the fenceline located immediately adjacent to the leaking tanks, adjacent to a public road View of the placement of boom by the facility's response contractors, just downstream of the facility Boom deployed in Elk River downstream of chemical release area. Contractors for facility in boat. Company Sign at front gate
    For additional information, visit the Pollution/Situation Report (Pol/Sitreps) section.