On January 19, 2016 Washington Department of Ecology requested assistance from EPA's Emergency Response program to address hazardous substances stored at a vacant private residence in Tacoma, Pierce County, WA. The property was identified by local law enforcement, who were investigating the origin of chemicals left behind at a separate residence in a neighboring municipality.
OSCs Fowlow and Stanfield arrived on scene the afternoon January 20 after beginning assessment a removal activities at the first property. By January 21 site access had been acquired and EPA emergency response contractors began mobilizing to the site to set up operations in order to begin assessing and securing abandoned hazardous chemicals left in four separate buildings on the property. After reviewing all safety plans and protocols contractors began what is expected to be a multi-day effort of grouping containers into separate hazard classes for proper transportation and disposal. Initial assessment indicated the presence of flammable liquids, oxidizing substances, toxic substances, corrosive materials, and other miscellaneous hazardous materials.
