U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Border Recycling Center - Removal Polrep
Final Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VI
Subject: POLREP #2
Final POLREP
Border Recycling Center

Uvalde, TX
Latitude: 29.2390240 Longitude: -99.8313150

To:
From: Adam Adams, OSC
Date: 11/19/2009
Reporting Period:

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: A6U2    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead:    Incident Category:
NPL Status:    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 11/18/2009    Start Date: 11/18/2009
Demob Date: 11/19/2009    Completion Date: 11/19/2009
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:


1.1.1 Incident Category:  Emergency Response

1.1.2 Site Description:  On 18 November 2009, the United States Environmental Protection Agency Prevention and Response Branch (EPA-PRB) responded to an NRC report and teamed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to provide air monitoring and site evaluation for a fire at the Border Recycling Center that began on 17 November 2009 at approximately 1300 hours.  The facility receives recycled materials generated from U.S. industrial facilities operating in Mexico near Del Rio, Texas.  The cause of the fire is unknown.

1.1.2.1 Location:  The facility is located at 2343 West FM 2369, Uvalde, Uvalde County, Texas.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat:  Unknown threats relative to large facility fires (i.e. particulates, possible organics, carbon monoxide, odorants, explosive atmospheres, chlorines, compressed gases, etc.).

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results: 

On 18 November 2009, perimeter air monitoring was conducted north of the site along Corn Cob Lane to the intersection of Corn Cob Lane and Texas Highway 55 and to the west along Hacienda Road to the intersection of Hacienda Road and Dunbar Lane.  Air monitoring was conducted for particuates, amines, ammonia, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, chlorine, organic vapors, hydrides, hydrogen sulfide, odorant, oxygen, and for explosive atmosphere.  Air monitoring results for particulates ranging from 0.012 to 0.90 mg/m3 (milligrams per cubic meter) were detected approximately 0.25 miles west northwest of the site on Hacienda Road.  The background levels for the site upwind of the fire location were 0.013 mg/m3.  No additional readings exceeding background levels were detected.

On 19 November 2009, TCEQ Strike Team members Kelly Crunk and Robert Reed arrived on-site as requested by the on-site TCEQ EI.  EPA OSC Adams and EPA representatives assisted TCEQ in conducting air monitoring of the plume at three off-site locations.  Location No. 1 was located on Dunbar Lane approximately 0.25 mile west of the intersection of Dunbar Lane and Hacienda Lane and equipped with one DataRam particulates monitor.  Location No. 2 was located on Hacienda Road approximately 0.25 west of the intersection of Hacienda Road and Corn Cob Lane.  Location No. 3 was located on Corn Cob Lane approximately 0.25 mile north of the intersection of Hacienda Road and Corn Cob Lane.  Locations Nos. 2 and 3 were equipped with two DataRam particulates monitors and 1 AreaRae at both locations.  A Personal DataRam (PDR) was used to collect background air quality data on-site upwind of the fire.  The AreaRaes and PDR were used to continuously collect data from approximately 1030 hours until 1400 hours.  The DataRams were used to collect data for three 1.0 hour runs.

 

The results of the air monitoring were analyzed by the TCEQ Strike Team and are uploaded to EPAOSC.net/BorderRecyclingCenter website.  The air monitoring data exceeded background levels at Location No. 2, located within the plume.  However, air monitoring data was within background levels at Locations Nos. 1 and 3.  No air monitoring results indicated hazardous conditions for local residents or receptors during the sampling period.  The only detections above background were particulates directly in the plume at approximately 0.25 miles from the site.

 

Following completion of monitoring equipment data downloads by the Strike Team, OSC Adams released EPA representatives from the site at approximately 1600 hours on 19 November 2009.

2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Future Plans/Action:  The TCEQ will continue to observe the site conditions and response efforts.

  2.2 Planning Section
   

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities:  None.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities:  None.

2.2.2 Issues:  Earlier notification to EPA would have allowed a more thorough evaluation of site hazards (i.e. use of Aspect aircraft during the most critical site conditions on Tuesday, 17 November 2009).

  2.3 Logistics Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer
Presently, particulates are the only hazard of concern due to the actual fire.  Air monitoring conducted indicated no other hazards to site personnel or local residents/receptors during the monitoring period.  Additional hazards are standard safety issues at all sites (i.e. slips, trips, falls, traffic, etc.).

2.6 Liaison Officer
EPA is working directly with TCEQ.  All other site contacts are made through TCEQ (i.e. fire department, PRP, local government/municipality, residents, etc.). 

2.7 Information Officer


2.7.1 Public Information Officer:  Not assigned/requested other than the OSC on the scene.

2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator:  Not assigned/requested other than the OSC on the scene.
3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command
Uniform Command presently includes the EPA, TCEQ, and the Uvalde FD.  Following demobilization of EPA and EPA representatives on the evening of 19 November 2009, TCEQ is the primary site contact managing further site response efforts.

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
4. Personnel On Site
  On site personnel include EPA OSC Adams, EPA representatives, TCEQ Region 13 Contact, and the local Uvalde FD teams and security.  Addtionally, the TCEQ Strike Team was on site on 19 November 2009 to provide TCEQ air monitoring resources and graphed results summaries.

5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.
6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
The fire was in an article in the local paper accessible online.

6.2 Reporting Schedule
7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.