U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Belmont Avenue Warehouse Fire - Removal Polrep
Final Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V
Subject: POLREP #3
Final
Belmont Avenue Warehouse Fire

Indianapolis, IN
Latitude: 39.7613920 Longitude: -86.1985070

To:
From: Jason Sewell, On-Scene Coordinator
Date: 8/7/2013
Reporting Period: 6/26/2013 through 7/2/2013

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: C5U7    Contract Number: EPS50905
D.O. Number: B5-127    Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 6/20/2013    Start Date: 6/21/2013
Demob Date: 7/2/2013    Completion Date: 7/2/2013
CERCLIS ID: INN000510928    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification: IDEM ER, OAM
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Incident Category:  Spill or other one-time event

1.1.2 Site Description
The site is the location of the Belmont Avenue Warehouse Fire (BELMONT) and all off-property locations where roofing debris containing asbestos containing material (ACM) was transported and deposited by fire, smoke and wind action (Fallout Area).  BELMONT is comprised of a warehouse that contained materials for recycling, including tires and asphalt roofing shingles.  The warehouse also contained wooden pallets, propane tanks, and heavy equipment.  The facility caught fire the morning of June 15, 2013 and was mostly extinguished by June 16, 2013.  Smoldering and fire flare ups continued for days.

1.1.2.1 Location
BELMONT is located at 220 S. Belmont Avenue in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.  Site coordinates are 39.7587870 degrees north latitude and 86.1973720 degrees west longitude.  The Fallout Area includes BELMONT and nearby neighborhoods as well as areas of near-west, near-north, and northeast Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Friable ACM was released to the environment as a result of the fire and transported downwind. The Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) requested assistance after analytical results confirmed the presence of asbestos in the fugitive debris.  Media reported fire related debris 5 miles downwind.  EPA and MCPHD confirmed fugitive ACM up to 8 miles downwind and at locations across approximately 20 square miles.  The ACM came to rest in public and residential locations and posed a threat of exposure to general public to respirable asbestos fibers. 

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
See Section 2.1.
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

On June 15, 2013, MCPHD requested EPA assistance with air monitoring during the warehouse fire.  On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) Shelly Lam responded.  OSC Lam mobilized the Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contractor, the Environmental Response Team (ERT), and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

On June 20, 2013, MCPHD lab results documented fugitive debris as ACM and requested further EPA assistance with recovering fugitive ACM. OSC Jaime Brown responded to  assess the extent of dispersal and to coordinate response activities.  OSC Brown transitioned the response to OSC Jason Sewell on June 27, 2013.  EPA emergency actions were concluded July 2, 2013.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

EPA worked in conjunction with MCPHD and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to conduct the response actions listed below. 

  • Mobilized to site and met with Response Manager, MCPHD and property owner;
  • Mobilized Emergency and Rapid Response Services (ERRS) and START 06/22/2013;
  • Collected visible fugitive ACM in the evacuation area and extending outward approximately 2 miles to the northwest;
  • ACM handling included wetting and bagging of roofing debris;
  • All recovered debris was staged at BELMONT pending disposal by PRP;
  • Collected debris from 'call locations' that were reported to MCPHD as of July 2, 2013;
  • Conducted monitoring for asbestos and particulates using personal air monitoring pumps;
  • Collected bulk debris samples for asbestos analysis;
  • Performed perimeter air sampling during emergency demolition activities on 6/29/2013;
  • Demobilized ERRS and START on 7/2/2013.
  • This is the Final POLREP for emergency actions taken by EPA.  Further actions are anticipated to be performed by PRP(s).

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

EPA is gathering information about the tenants and owners of the building that caught fire.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

 R5 Priorities Summary
This is an Integrated River Assessment.  The numbers should overlap. Miles of river systems cleaned and/or restored 0
Cubic yards of contaminated sediments removed and/or capped 3
Gallons of oil/water recovered 0
Acres of soil/sediment cleaned up in floodplains and riverbanks 0
Stand Alone Assessment Acres Protected Hundreds of acres
Number of contaminated residential yards cleaned up Hundreds of yards
Human Health Exposures Avoided 1,000
Number of workers on site 30, EPA and contractors
Contaminant(s) of Concern
Contaminant(s) of Concern Asbestos, chrysotile


  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

The following sections detail anticipated activities.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

EPA concluded emergency actions to collect fugitive debris.  EPA is collecting PRP information and anticipates executing an order for additional assessment and collection of visible debris by PRP(s). 

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

Enforcement activities including an action memo and further cleanup by PRP(s).

2.2.2 Issues

The June 15, 2013 fire at BELMONT released fugitive debris that traveled for approximately 8 miles downwind and covering approximately 20 square miles of downtown Indianapolis and neighborhoods to the west, north and northeast of downtown Indianapolis.  Although the MCPHD and others were advising residents to wet, remove and bag visible debris early on, it was not learned that fugitive debris contained ACM for several days. 

MCPHD established a debris reporting line where residents could:
1. Report areas where de debris was locations where fugitive debris has gathered that needs cleaned up, and/or 2. request debris the residents have collected to be picked up for proper disposal.  MCPHD and the City of Indianapolis wished to discourage discarding the asbestos in household solid waste as all central Indianapolis solid waste goes to an incinerator.  There is also an ordinance prohibiting the disposal of asbestos in household trash.  It appears many homeowners attempted visible debris cleanup on their own.  During EPA emergency actions, it was observed that many, if not most, lawn areas had been mowed. 
  2.3 Logistics Section
    Logistics during the EPA emergency action were handled by the EPA ERRS contractor.
  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer
The OSCs were the safety officer for respective EPA's activities.

2.5.2 Liaison Officer
The OSC

2.5.3 Information Officer
MCPHD was acting lead for media inquiries.  OSC Brown provided interviews to two television news stations and participated in a joint news conference.
3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command
U.S. EPA
IDEM
Marion County Public Health Department
City of Indianapolis

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
IFD
ATSDR.
4. Personnel On Site
  The following personnel were supporting air monitoring operations:

Between June 15th and July 2nd:
EPA 3 OSCs
ERRS 25 members
START 6 START
RP 10 contractors (limited to 3 days)
5. Definition of Terms
 
ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
ERT Environmental Response Team
IDEM Indiana Department of Environmental Management
IFD Indianapolis Fire Department
MCPHD Marion County Public Health Department
NA Not applicable
OSC On-Scene Coordinator
PAH Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons
PIO Public Information Officer
PM 2.5 2.5 micron particulate matter
PolRep Pollution Report
ppb parts per billion
ppm parts per million
PRP Potentially Responsible Party
SPM Single Point Monitor
START Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team
TDD Technical Direction Document
ug/m3 micrograms per cubic meter
VOC Volatile Organic Compounds


6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
The OSC has posted additional information to www.epaosc.org/belmontavefire.

Public health information was posted at:
http://www.mchd.com/pdf/Belmont_Fire_Debris.pdf

6.2 Reporting Schedule
No further POLREPs will be issued.
7. Situational Reference Materials
  NA