At 2315 hours on 15 March 2004, OSC Jakabhazy was dispatched to a suspected release of sodium permanganate in Smithfield, RI to the Branch River. RIDEM arrived on scene at approx 1800 hours to a reported red release into the Branch River that had been reportedly ongoing for several hours. The source was traced to a catch basin on the Phillips Components Facility on Industrial Road, off the Pound Road exit of Rt 146. Coordination with facility personnel indicated that an injection of sodium permanganate to treat a TCE plume had been performed earlier in the day. RIDEM contractor, Lincoln Environmental was on scene and efforts to contain the release to the catch basin were underway by early evening, red colored water continues to flow into the catch basin. The injections were being performed by Shaw Environmental under contract to Phillips, efforts to contact project personnel are unsuccessful to date. Extent of discoloration in river is unknown at this time. Property ownership is unclear at present. Phillips Components is the owner, but there is a current tenant, known as NMC. A prospective buyer, Amperax is expected to close (or has closed) on the property; reportedly under facilitation of a Brownfields project. The facility is operating. Case Pends
OSC Jakabhazy arrived on scene at approx 0030 hrs this morning and integrated into the incident command. The river was colored purple for an undetermined area. Overnight the release was partially contained by plugging the storm drain outlet pipe and pumping/flushing the system of catch basins and piping. A 3000 gallon tank truck was filled with product/water mix. At 0400 personnel demobilized from the scene. At this point the storm drain outlet was running clear.
At 0730 personnel returned to the scene. The storm drain plug released overnight and the storm drain outlet was purple, but the river was back to normal color. Pumping and flushing continued with filling 55 gallon drums and fract. tanks. No fish kill was observed. Minnows/tadpoles in the impacted area appeared to be acting normally. pH of the storm drain outlet was 9.0 and the river was nuetral.
Per contact was gained with the RP's contractor (Shaw Environmental) in the morning the following injection details were made known:
-Injection points: 4
-Fri 12 March: 100 gallon gravity pour of 40% sodium permangenate solution
-Mon 15 March: 400 gallon injection of 40% sodium permangenate solution
By late morning the RP's contractor had relieved the RIDEM's contractor with concurrence of RIDEM and EPA and the RP indicated it would pay for RIDEM's contractor costs (Lincoln Environmental). (Direct pay or reimburse unknown at this time).
It was suspected that a cause of the release was that an injection well(s) had either penetrated the storm sewer line and/or injection well(s) penetrated a highly conductive formation (such as gravel along the storm drain).
OSC Jabakhazy demobilized from the scene at approximately 1100 hours on 16 March 2004.
