U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Conecsus Fire - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VI
Subject: POLREP #1
Initial
Conecsus Fire

Forney, TX
Latitude: 32.7534370 Longitude: -96.4574690

To:
From: Adam Adams, OSC
Date: 10/18/2012
Reporting Period: 10/17/2012-10/18/2012

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: A6FW    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead: PRP    Incident Category: Removal Assessment
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 10/17/2012    Start Date: 10/17/2012
Demob Date: 10/18/2012    Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.: 1027649    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

Emergency Response

1.1.2 Site Description

At approximately 1930 on 17 October, 2012, a fire was discovered at the Conecsus warehouse at 304 Industrial Drive, Forney, Texas.  Shortly thereafter, the Forney Fire Dept. was notified and responded to the fire.  The warehouse is leased by Conecsus and contains refurbished drums, poly totes with a 25% Caustic Solution, and used baghouse filter bags from their baghouse fume that is part of their lead and tin recycling facility in Terrell, Texas.  The chemical of concern is lead, and the Conecsus representatives stated that the bags are being temporarily stored until they can be recycled at their facility.  The Kaufman County Emergency Manager also responded to the incident and notified the TCEQ, and the City of Dallas HAZMAT Team.

1.1.2.1 Location

304 Industrial Drive, Forney, Kaufman County,  Texas


1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Lead dust from baghouse filters.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

Initial findings indicated dust/ash debris along building exterior walls along with fire water.
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
The EPA OSC Response Duty Officer and contractors were activated by the EPA Phone Duty Officer at approximately 2145 on 17 October, 2012.  EPA OSC Adam Adams arrived onsite at approximately 2240.  The NRC was notified (NRC # 1027649) at 2315 local time.  The remaining EPA Team members arrived onsite at approximately 2350.   The fire inside the storage facility was predominantly out by 0030 on 18 October 2012.  In the process of fighting the fire, a hole was cut in the side of the building to allow for better access to the burning materials.  A small amount of fire water runoff was produced and collected in the loading bay which is below gradient and at the front of the building, and some of the materials spread to the ground on the exterior of the building.  TAS Environmental, Conecsus’ cleanup contractor arrived onsite at approximately 0100 on 18 October 2012, and conducted initial assessment activities.  After discussing the remediation plan with Conecsus and TAS Environmental, the EPA Team departed the site at approximately 0140 on 18 October 2012.

Air monitoring conducted by EPA did not indicate any hazardous environments at the time of the air monitoring.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The Potentially Responsible Party at this time is Conecsus.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics
Waste volumes created and managed by the PRP have not been provided at the time of this POLREP.
  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

Remediation actions will be conducted to protect workers, public health, and the environment from the release of hazardous substances.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

PRP remediation plan:

1.Pump or push any remaining firewater back into the building and allow to evaporate.

2. Excavate the surface of the ground around the exterior of the building approximately 3 to 6 inches to remove any surficial contamination, and collect soil samples for Total Lead Analysis. 

3. Repair the hole in the building that was cut by the Fire Department

4. Wipe down all undamaged pallets in warehouse and transfer drums/totes/contents to a different warehouse for temporary storage.

5. Properly dispose of fire damaged materials.

6.  Once warehouse is empty, warehouse will be cleaned and wipe samples for lead will be collected for confirmation.

Activities 1 -3 are of highest priority and are anticipated to be completed by end of day on 18 October 2012 to remove the threat of offsite migration due to rainfall events.

An EPA Team member will return to the site and observe and document activities by TAS Environmental conducted on 18 October 2012

  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
    No information available at this time.
3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command
Incident Command was provided by the Forney Fire Department.

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Additional responding agencies include EPA and Kaufman County Emergency Management.

The PRP, Conecsus LLC, was onsite during the response as well, and assumed lead after the fire was secured and control of the Site was passed by Forney Fire Department.
4. Personnel On Site
  Additional persons onsite include the local ambulance service.
5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.
6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
Additional information can be obtained at www.epaosc.net/ConecsusFire.

6.2 Reporting Schedule
A final POLREP will be provided at the completion of response actions and analytical results have been provided by the PRP.
7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.