U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
EPA Response to Haiti Earthquake - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region II
Subject: POLREP #11
EPA Response to Haiti Earthquake

Port-au-Prince, HT
Latitude: 18.5394190 Longitude: -72.3367230

To:
From: Planning Section Chief, Haiti Disaster Response, Region II REOC
Date: 3/19/2010
Reporting Period:

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number:      Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority:      Response Type:  
Response Lead:    Incident Category:
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 2/15/2010    Start Date: 2/15/2010
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:


1.1.1 Incident Category
Earthquake disaster.

1.1.2 Site Description 
Site conditions remain as previously reported. 

1.1.2.1 Location
Republic of Haiti, all areas.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Threats are being assessed for possible future assignments.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

On February 1, 2010 EPA received a request for assistance from the Department of Defense Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) for EPA assistance in a Haiti recovery effort. They specifically wanted the agency to participate in a Joint Task Force (JTF) to develop an assessment  of public health and environmental needs for Haiti, for both short and long term goals.  The JTF is comprised of other federal partners such as DOE, DOT/CG, ACOE, USAID and EPA.  EPA Region 2 has deployed a second team of two OSCs for a 30-day tour to support this effort.  The overall effort will continue to focus on providing recommendations on various matters of public health, such as housing location assessments, identifying potential debris staging areas, solid waste disposal, medical waste disposal, biological waste disposal, asbestos material management, and possible radioactive waste retrieval/disposal.

 

The JTF continues to assess critical needs and make recommendations to administer immediate assistance to help prevent further loss of life and the deterioration of human health.  Although the current mission is dynamic and broad in scope, because of the enormity and scale of the tragedy EPA personnel are helping to identify potential areas that may be critical or more properly part of a longer term recovery effort.  EPA is conducting environmental assessments as requested and continues to make recommendations to the JTF and the Haitian government.   

 

On March 15th EPA Team 2, comprised of Region II OSCs Mike Brescio and Jeff Bechtel, arrived on Haiti.
After a transitional overlap EPA Team 1 departed Haiti on March 17th and arrived back in the US.

OSCs report that the ACOE is beginning to clear debris and solid waste from the streets of PaP.  EPA may be asked to advise the COE on disposal matters relating to this activity.

 

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
As of this report date the JTF continues to assess additional locations for possible use for debris staging and/or disposal areas.  Recommendations have been made through the JTF on such matters as solid waste disposal, siting of public housing, contamination from mass grave sites, plastic container recycling, medical waste disposal, and inspections of the container port area for hazardous materials and oil spills.  Continuing concerns are for construction debris landfills and disposal of solid & medical waste. 

A prominent assignment was drafting an Environmental Assessment (EA) review for all debris management activities performed by USAID or its partners.  It was finalized by Team 1, and is being updated to address a new problem involving debris disposal in a wetlands area near the PaP port area.  The EA is intended to be a comprehensive document that covers a “cradle to grave” evaluation of such subjects as debris management from the source (damaged buildings/homes), transportation issues, and final disposal sites. It examines the possible human and environmental impacts and what best management practices should be followed by US agencies and their contractors to minimize adverse human and environmental impacts. The document covers, debris, medical waste, HAZMAT, solid waste, and organic refuse.

EPA responders, in conjunction with reps from Brazil, provided advice on a Biogas (methane) project to assist SouthCom and USAID with sanitation issues at the resettlement camps and for private houses that are still habitable.  Many Haitians will be relocated in the next 30-60 days and there are no sewage treatment/disposal facilities in Haiti.  Biogas production, using human waste to produce methane for use as cooking fuel, is widely used in undeveloped countries. 

USAID awarded a contract to a US firm to manage all C & D debris.  However, it is being deposited in a wetlands near the PaP port area.  Besides being an environmentally sensitive area, the wetlands acts as a buffer against flood waters.  If the wetlands is filled in, rising water may be directed towards an adjacent residential area.  EPA has, in response to this situation, sought other areas for debris disposal, including a former quarry southeast of PaP.  

EPA has been asked by a rep in the Ministry of the Environment to help draft a grant application for $60,000 for an environmental project.   Project candidates are:   reforestation of eroded mountainous areas, the Biogas methane project, and improving the operating efficiency of a hydro-electric dam.  OSCs are planning to have a meeting with the Minister to discuss the projects.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
n/a

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
 N/A          
           
           



  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
EPA responders are providing environmental assessments, developing environmental strategies/plans, and working as part of an interagency Joint Task Force to provide short and long term environmental recommendations.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Working with the other Task Force members, EPA is scoping potential mission areas and will identify issues where assistance may be provided.  EPA will continue to coordinate actions with the Task Force agencies and the Haitian government as necessary.

As of February 23, 2010 EPA reps have been part of the JTF assessing potential locations for construction debris placement/disposal.  Other problems the JTF is looking into is disposal of human waste, short and long term solutions to a growing mass of solid waste, in particular plastic bottles.  The lack of clean water (other than plastic containers) is also linked to a need for infrastructure repair for public drinking water supplies.  The JTF is working with the DOD and the Army Corp of Engineers (ACOE) in these regards.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
EPA Region II and EPA HQ will continue to plan and implement support of the response effort for Haiti.  A potential problem with disposal of millions of empty plastic water bottles is rapidly becoming a very real problem. The JTF has requested EPA assistance to address recycling of plastic waste.

Scanning debris and rubble for radiation, evaluating possible public housing locations, medical waste disposal,
resumption of port operations, and other public health matters are coming to the forefront.

2.2.2 Issues
From a Regional perspective, funding source(s) will be needed to support Regional participation in the response.
  2.3 Logistics Section
    2.3 Logistics Section
Southern Command will continue to provide logistical support (food, housing, and sanitation) for EPA staff.   As of this week all responders, including those from back-up EPA Regions, will be briefed in the Region II Regional Response Center in Edison, NJ prior to flying to Haiti.  Effective 3/10/10 SouthernCommand has discontinued military flights to and from Haiti for EPA personnel.  EPA responders are using commercial carriers into and out of Haiti.  

EPA responders are now communicating regularly with the Region II REOC, mostly via the Internet, which seems to be more readily available in the Embassy.  Inter-personnel communications on the ground are non-existent, so OSCs are traveling together.
  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer
A pre-deployment Health and Safety briefing package has been developed.  A written medical clearance procedure has been implemented.  A Health & Safety Plan has been developed based upon upon anticipated mission activities and will be revised as the mission and areas of operation are developed.  CISM briefing was initiated by the Region II CISM team and responders were provided pre-deployment materials regarding stress and health maintenance.

Malaria continues to be a very real threat.  Region II has reminded it's personnel to take anti-malarial medication exactly as prescribed.  The second EPA team, currently on Haiti, has been issued fully encapsulating mosquito nets for their cots and mosquito repellant/sunscreen lotion for personal use.

With the onset of the rainy season a whole host of potential health and safety threats come to mind.  This includes flash floods, insect swarms, road wash-outs, mudslides, and mold growth.

All documents not containing personal information are posted on the www.epaosc.org website.

2.6 Liaison Officer
  The Region II Planning Section Chief is currently fulfilling the position of Liaison Officer with other agencies.

2.7 Information Officer
2.7.1 Public Information Officer
All information concerning EPA involvement in Haiti is being handled through the Region II REOC and informational updates by DHS are being posted on the www.epaosc.org Haiti earthquake response website.

EPA public affairs contact information was provided to SOUTHCOM so that external communications can be coordinated. 

2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
None at this time.

3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command
n/a

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
EPA will provide assistance to other federal agencies (DOD, ACOE, FEMA, USCG, etc.) as requested.

4. Personnel On Site
  EPA OSCs Jeff Bechtel and Mike Brescio arrived on Haiti on March 15th, replacing OSC Solecki and ERT member Alan Humphrey, who departed Haiti on March 17th.
5. Definition of Terms
  n/a

6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
http://www.epaosc.org.  Click on" Web Sites", then "Region II".  Scroll down to "Haiti Response" and click on that link.

6.2 Reporting Schedule
EPA Team 2 reports to the Region II REOC on an almost daily basis, primarily via e-mails.  Satellite phone service is reliable but subject to atmospheric interference which limits the duration of phone calls.

POLREPs/SITREPs will be issued every Friday, except in the case of an extraordinary event, which will be immediately reported.

7. Situational Reference Materials
  Situational updates provided by DHS are posted on the www.epa.osc website.