U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Pike County Flood - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IV
Subject: POLREP #4
Recovery Operations Continue
Pike County Flood

Pikeville, KY
Latitude: 37.4792672 Longitude: -82.5187629

To:
From: Alyssa Hughes, On-Scene Coordinator
Date: 7/24/2010
Reporting Period: 7/23/10 0700 - 7/23/10 1800

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: B4A9    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 7/19/2010    Start Date: 7/20/2010
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:


1.1.1 Incident Category
Disaster Response

1.1.2 Site Description
On 7/17/2010, a heavy rainstorm caused localized flash flooding in Pike County, Kentucky, five miles east of Pikeville, Kentucky.  Four fatalities were linked to the floods.  By 7/20/2010 the Red Cross estimated that 79 homes had been completely destroyed, 86 received major damage, and 44 had received minor damage.  By 7/18/2010 the local and state agencies began disaster recovery operations, and by 7/19/2010 federal agencies arrived for disaster assessment and recovery.  On 7/19/2010, KYDEP requested EPA assistance in addressing various hazardous materials containers that had been spotted in debris piles along the washout corridor(s).

1.1.2.1 Location
The flooding encompasses several localities east of Pikeville within Pike County, Kentucky: Meta, Bent Branch, Zebulon, Raccoon, Justiceville, Millard, and Manowbone.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The flood has washed away several hazardous materials containers and oil containers from residences and small commercial facilities.  Materials within these containers present a threat of release or exposure to residents/responders if they are mishandled with other debris or if they are left unattended.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Containers that have been spotted by KYDEP and EPA assessment teams include: oil storage tanks (5-2000 gallon capacity), drums, totes, saddle tanks, and compressed gas cylinders.  Also, several large propane tanks have been spotted and may present a fire or explosion hazard if they contain product under pressure.
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative
KYDEP requested EPA assistance on 7/19/2010; TEL dispatched R1 OSC Huyser, who arrived with START on 7/20/2010 and ERRS crews who arrived on 7/21/2010.  START and KYDEP assessment teams collected data on hazmat containers using the DRAG with the Trimble GeoXT.  ERRS crews collected items that had been identified and tagged, then transported them to a staging area for processing.

Pike County Solid Waste Management has allocated a space for the staging area behind the county recycling center.  Copies of the ESF 10 Operational Period Plan are being provided to the County EOC each day.  By 7/21/2010 the NRCS, FEMA, Pike County Solid Waste Management, and Pike County Road Department were all been informed of KYDEP and EPA’s activities and had notified their field personnel to report any hazardous material issues or orphaned containers; however, as of 7/23/2010, no new reports of containers have been submitted.

On 7/22/2010, FEMA announced that the event had reached the threshold for a federal disaster declaration.  KYDEP had submitted a mission assignment request for federal technical assistance and direct federal assistance through the KY State EOC on 7/20/2010.  The status of this mission assignment request will be monitored by EPA R4 to the RRCC and by KYDEP to the KY State EOC.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
Assessment Team CHARLIE accompanied Recovery Team FOXTROT to Johns Creek area requiring additional assessment.  The team identified several additional items ranging from 5 gallon buckets to 100 pound propane tanks and 55 gallon drums that were not previously captured during assessment.  Team FOXTROT collected the items using a skidsteer and mule and trailer.  The items were taken to the staging area.  Following the collection of items in the Johns Creek Church area, Team CHARLIE traveled to Raccoon Area 4 to collect the two open items there (both 5 gallon buckets). 

During this time, Team DELTA collected the compressed gas cylinders in Raccoon 1 remiaining open items.  Collection of those items is now complete.  The track hoe arrived on-site at approximately 1200.  Teams DELTA and FOXTROT worked together during the recovery of large items near the confluence of Thompson Branch and Raccoon Creek.  Containers collected from this area include 1-1000 gallon steel above ground storage tank, 1-350 gallon tote containing waste oil, 1-200 gallon fuel tank, 2-55 gallon drums, 1-1000 pound propane tank, and 1-35 gallon container of Safety Kleen.

Upon return to the Zebulon area, Team CHARLIE and KDEP officials located additional orphaned containers in the vicinity of Winns Branch.  This area does not appear to have been previously assessed, and will require additional attention during the next operational period.  One trailer load of containers was taken to the staging area.


2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
Owner permission is being sought before treading on private property.  When available, commercial property owners are being encouraged to provide information on hazardous materials that may have been washed away from their facilities.   Owners of containers will be sought prior to removing the container.
  2.2 Planning Section
   

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
A majority of the recovery along the most heavily impacted areas (Raccoon Creek and Harless Creek) has been completed.  The drums remaining in the Johns Creek area will be addressed during the next operational period.  The recovery of these items will require the track hoe.  KDEP officials discovered a large white poly tank north of the staging area in Meta.  Additional assessment and recovery will take place during the next operational period.  This should complete recovery efforts and crews will be demobilized.  ERRS RM will work on establishing waste streams and setting up for transportation and disposal. 

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
- Assessments of hazardous material threats in the community; (COMPLETE)
- Coordinate response efforts with participating local/state/federal agencies; (ONGOING)
- Removal of hazardous materials; (ONGOING)
- Disposal, treatment, and/or recycling of hazardous materials and/or containers;

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
- Continue and complete recovery operations.
- Begin segregation and consolidation of recovered materials in the staging area in preparation for disposal.

2.2.2 Issues
No longer foresee the need for an OSC to backfill. 
  2.3 Logistics Section
    A track hoe was mobilized to the site on 7/23/2010 to provide capability to access containers in difficult terrain.
  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer
N/A

2.6 Liaison Officer
By 7/21/2010 the NRCS, FEMA, Pike County Solid Waste Management, and Pike County Road Department were all been informed of KYDEP and EPA’s activities and had notified their field personnel to report any hazardous material issues or orphaned containers.


2.7 Information Officer


2.7.1 Public Information Officer
N/A

2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
N/A
3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command
N/A

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
KYDEP
EPA
Pike County
4. Personnel On Site
  KYDEP (1)
EPA (1)
START (2)
ERRS (8)
5. Definition of Terms
  N/A

6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
N/A

6.2 Reporting Schedule
N/A

7. Situational Reference Materials
  An ESF 10 Operational Period Plan has been posted for 7/23/2010.