Polution Situation Report

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Iowa Floods 2011 - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VII

Subject:

POLREP #1
Pottawattami County Land Operations
Iowa Floods 2011

six counties, IA
Latitude: 41.5906971 Longitude: -93.6012980

To:

From:

Susan Fisher, OSC

Date:

10/4/2011

Reporting Period:

9/19/2011 to 9/29/2011

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:	1998DR-IA-EPA-02	Contract Number:
D.O. Number:		Action Memo Date:
Response Authority:	Stafford Act	Response Type:
Response Lead:	FEMA	Incident Category:
NPL Status:		Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:	9/19/2011	Start Date:
Demob Date:	9/28/2011	Completion Date:
CERCLIS ID:		RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:
FPN#:		Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category:      Stafford Act: Orphan Drum and Container Recovery Operations

1.1.2 Site Description:         Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

1.1.2.1 Location:                 Pottawattamie County, Iowa is located east of the Missouri river, north of Mills County. Harrison County is north of Pottawattamie County and Cass County is on the eastern border. The site borders the Missouri River to the west, Mills County south, Harrison County north and Cass County east.

Pottawattamie County is the second largest County by area in the state of Iowa, with a population of 93,158 (2010 census). The County seat is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat    During the last half of May 2011, the upper Missouri River basin received nearly a year`s worth of rainfall. In addition, the estimated snow melt runoff was 212 percent of normal across the upper portion of the river system. These conditions resulted in Missouri river basin reservoirs across eastern Montana and the Dakotas nearing their maximum levels. Record releases at Gavin’s Point dam located to the west of Yankton, South Dakota resulted in severe flooding of the Missouri River, which flooded crop lands and residential neighborhoods in Iowa.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative On August 25, 2011 the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a mission assignment (MA) to conduct oil and hazardous materials field operations, including cleanup and disposal of hazardous materials and oil, and orphaned containers.

On September 15, 2011 FEMA issued EPA a task order to deploy to Pottawattamie County to locate and recover flood displaced hazardous materials drums and containers.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

On September 19, 2011 OSC Fisher and OSC Campbell and 4 EPA contractors mobbed to Pottawattamie Emergency Operations Center, Council Bluffs, Iowa. Reconnaissance activities were led by Jeff Theulan, Pottawattamie County Emergency Management, of areas within the county that were accessible and where orphan drums and containers could be found. Written access was given to EPA for use of the Honey Creek secondary roads maintenance facility, Honey Creek, IA as a temporary staging area for recovered containers.
Reconnaissance activities were conducted, orphan containers were found on private properties, including the Canadian National Railway right-of-way. Access was obtained from the properties before containers were recovered.

A table showing GPS locations of containers, types of containers recovered, and type of access given is attached. A written access agreement was given to EPA to go on Canadian National Railway right-of way.

As of September 28, 2011 all known orphan drums and containers that were accessible by land have been recovered.

On September 28, 2011 OSC Fisher took an overflight of Pottawattamie County by helicopter (at no cost to the operations). The focus of the overflight was the north end of the county, west of I-29, where it was inaccessible to conduct land operations due to flood conditions. Approximately 25 containers were located, and a GPS coordinate with pictures was collected at each location.

EPA and their contractors demobbed from the site and returned to their offices on September 28, 2011.

A 2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Approximately 118 orphan containers were recovered during operations.

Approximately 1,850 gallons of liquid waste was properly disposed of.

Metal was recycled, for a credit to the operations in the amount of $933.80.

Propane tanks were picked up by local propane dealers who will identify tanks and return them to their owners.

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

Future plans for continued orphan drum and container recovery include water and land operations.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

EPA plans to continue orphan drum and container recovery at the end of October. Plans include water operations and land operations.

Water operations

A fly over on August 17, 2011 of the Missouri river from Fremont County to Woodbury County was conducted by EPA to identify orphan containers. Approximately 40 orphaned containers were found along the Missouri river. Operations to recover orphaned containers from the Missouri River include launching three boats into the Missouri river, with a crew of 3 OSCs and 5 contractors. Initial launch location would be Pottawattamie County. Boats would be launched at the southern end of Pottawattamie County and move north. Recovery operations would be conducted on the Iowa side of the Missouri river, EPA has marked locations where Nebraska property is on the Iowa side and Iowa property is on the Nebraska side to insure recovery operations are not on Nebraska property. Orphaned containers would be recovered and taken to a temporary staging area. Currently EPA has signed access agreements for three temporary staging areas located in Shenandoah, Honey Creek, and Sioux City Iowa. A land crew will be assisting the boat operators, including transporting orphan containers to staging areas, and refueling boats. It is anticipated that the boats could cover 20 river miles a day. There are approximately 100 river miles from Pottawattamie County to the North end of Woodbury County. Once operations end at Woodbury County, the boats will be launched at Fremont county and move North to the previous starting locations in Pottawattamie County, which is approximately 50 river miles. At the end of operations all liquids, solids and gases recovered will be properly disposed of, and the temporary staging areas will be shut down.

Land Operations

Pottawattamie county has approximately 25 orphaned containers identified that can be recovered by land. Other counties have indicated little to no orphaned containers found at this time. During water operations a land crew will be operating to support boat operators, as well as recovering orphaned containers by land. The land crew will consist of one OSC conducting reconaissance of containers, and one OSC and 3 contractors recovering containers from land and supporting boat operations. Prior to beginning operations each of the 6 declared counties will be contacted to get information on any orphaned containers found that need to be recovered.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

EPA will need an amended Mission Assignment from FEMA for additional funds to perform land and water operations. A cost estimate outlining operations is attached.

2.2.2 Issues

2.3 Logistics Section

Equipment needed:

3 boats capable of water operations on the Missouri river.
Track bobcat
Stake Bed Truck
Trailer
Truck with capabilities to refuel boats

2.4 Finance Section