The US Environmental Protection Agency's Response and Prevention Branch decided to conduct a CERCLA removal action to remove a quantity of pesticides and chemicals from a facility belonging to the US Virgin Islands Department of Health (DOH), Division of Environmental Health on St. Thomas, USVI.
This removal action was prompted by an inspection conducted by EPA on August 20, 2008 at the Old Municipal Facility in Charlotte Amalie.
EPA's VI Coordinator responded to the site on August 21, 2008 along with EPA's Response and Prevention Branch (RPB) personnel, met with the Director and toured the outside of the storage facility. Upon opening the door to the facility, EPA detected a strong odor of pesticides. EPA was informed that the storage building contained chemicals from as long as ten years ago. It was also indicated that some of the containers were corroded. This portion of the building was considered abandoned by the DOH.
There are a number of sensitive populations surrounding the site in close proximity. These include a pre-school, Head Start, and employee day care service housed in the adjoining Department of Human Services facility, the Lionel Robert Stadium, the Winston Raymo Recreation Center, and the DOH employees.
EPA issued a CERCLA Notice to the DOH as the Responsible Party on August 21, 2008 and indicated that the DOH should procure the services of a certified cleanup contractor and proceed with a materials removal action. EPA also made a commitment to assist the DOH in realizing the materials removal action.
In keeping with the promise to assist DOH, EPA's RPB personnel toured the site again on September 4, 2008 and observed that conditions had not changed regarding the storage of chemicals and the release of materials within the building. EPA observed the presence of two 55 gallon drums of 100% minerals oils, one 30 gallon drum of 5% pyrethrin based insecticide, one 5 gallon pail of deodorizer known as Sentrous, one empty 5 gallon pail, 3 cans of spray paint and two 50 pound cans of military grade bleaching agent (calcium hypochlorite). EPA observed stained wooden pallets and carpeting.
In view of the inability of the VI Fire Service’s Hazmat Team to stabilize the site in a timely manner and the extent of time that it would take the DOH to procure a contractor for that purpose, coupled with department's financial constraints and the fact that we were in the hurricane season, EPA decided to perform the cleanup.
