U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Green Lake Chemical House - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region X
Subject: POLREP #5
Progress
Green Lake Chemical House
10ND
Seattle, WA
Latitude: 44.6751000 Longitude: -122.3230000

To:
From: Jeffry Rodin, OSC
Date: 4/11/2014
Reporting Period: 4/11/14 through 4/12/14

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: 10ND    Contract Number: EP-07-13-07
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date: 4/3/2014
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Time-Critical
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 4/7/2014    Start Date: 4/7/2014
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID: WAN00101159    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

1.1.2 Site Description
On March 25, 2014, the EPA received information from King County Hazardous Waste Program regarding the improper storage of chemicals within a residential neighborhood in the City of Seattle. Photographs taken by or in cooperation with members of the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) and King County Hazardous Waste Program (King Co.) were provided to EPA. The photographs depict a number of containers with a variety of hazardous on the Property. Based on the labels in these photographs, the chemicals on the Property appear to include elements or compounds of arsenic, benzidine, cadmium, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, sodium hydroxide, sodium nitrite, carbon tetrachloride, and vanadium pentoxide.

For a full site description see POLREP 1 (Initial POLREP)

1.1.2.1 Location
The residence is located within the City of Seattle, Green Lake neighborhood. The Green Lake neighborhood is a high density residential area. Adjacent neighboring homes are characterized by narrow lot lines. The residence is also located less than .25 miles from the 1-5 corridor.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Numerous chemical containers are present on the property and within the basement of the residence. The amount of containers and debris makes accessing these areas difficult. Many of the chemicals on site are specifically listed as a hazardous substance subject to CERCLA. 40 C.F.R. Table 302.4. The EPA determined that the improperly stored chemicals and other hazardous substances pose an actual or potential threat of release to the environment. Many of the chemicals are old and expired, with negative value. Many chemicals are not properly stored and incompatible chemicals are stored adjacent to each other.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
There have been no known government or private cleanup actions undertaken at the Site to date.
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative
The EPA will direct its contractor to continue to characterize the chemicals and containers at the Site for disposal purposes. The basement has been emptied of all chemical containers (over 1,800). The OSC and START contractor conducted a walk through of the residence to ensure that all chemical containers have been removed, remove perishable food items from the kitchen, and return a watch and compass which had been located in a bag with chemical containers in the basement. The chemicals and low pH mineral samples have been removed from the garage and personnel effects of the residents have been returned. Arrangements will be made to have U-Haul storage pods removed from the street.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
See Initial POLREP.

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

2.1.4 Progress Metrics
The following table indicates the amount of chemicals processed by date:
Date HazCat Completed Inventory Completed
4/7/2014 78 169
4/8/2014 174 359
4/9/2014 141 424
4/10/2014 284 847
4/11/2014 221 389
4/12/2014 301 485
TOTAL 1199 2673*

*  The Inventory Completed total includes the containers processed through HazCat.

The following table displays the containers that have been prepared for off-site transportation and disposal: 
Date Overpack Drums Shipped Overpack Drums In Progress Cubic Yard Box Shipped
4/7/2014 0 17 0
4/8/2014 12 26 6
4/9/2014 10 18 3
4/10/2014 19 27 8
4/11/2014 18 35 6
4/12/2014 0* 37 0
TOTAL 59 160 23
* No shipment on 4/12/14. 10 Drums prepared for shipment.


  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Segregation of chemicals from the interior of the house on the main floor living space and in the attic and the garage. 

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Segregation of chemicals from the interior of the house on the main floor living space and in the attic and the garage.  Preparation for off-site disposal and transportation of removed chemicals. 

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Continue to segregate chemicals outside of the home.

2.2.2 Issues
Hazard Characterization and Chemical Issues:
  • A rare Aroclor (triphenol) 5460 was discovered in the basement. This requires special handling for off-site transportation and disposal. 
  • A PCB (Aroclor 1270) was discovered in the basement. These materials must be specially packaged for off-site transportation and disposal.
  • Additional containers of hydrofluoric acid and hydrazine were discovered in the basement. These chemicals require special handling during off-site transportation and disposal.
  • A corroded container of sodium metal was discovered in the basement. The outer 1/2 inch layer of sodium metal had been oxidized. When encountered, the container was packed in a damp cardboard box located on the floor in one of the pathways present in the basement. The sodium metal has been placed in a plastic bag and immersed in mineral oil to reduce the potential for reaction with atmospheric moisture. This chemical requires special packaging for off-site transportation and disposal.
  • Bromine, a Zone A poison, was encountered in the refrigerator in the basement. This chemical is considered acutely toxic. This chemical requires special handling for off-site transportation and disposal.
  • Amines & Ammonium Hydroxide were discovered in the refrigerator in the basement. START utilized Level B personal protection equipment while sampling & during hazard categorization of the material. These chemicals will require special handling for off-site transportation and disposal.
Removal and Staging Issues
  • A container of low radioactivity uranyl nitrate was transported by WA Department of Ecology to be transferred to WA Department of Health for final disposition.
Miscellaneous Issues:
  • A field-portable X-Ray Fluorescence instrument was used to evaluate materials that appeared to be mineral samples that were found in the garage. There were more than 100 of the mineral samples and many of the samples did not contain significant concentrations of metals. However, mineral samples with the sand-like consistency were identified to have a low pH and arsenic concentrations and will be shipped off-site for disposal.
  • A narrative video of the site activities was created to document site conditions.
  • The van has not been accessed and the contents need to be assessed to determine if chemicals are present. A compressed gas cylinder has been observed through the back window.


  2.3 Logistics Section
    Incoming US Postal Service delivery was accepted by the EPA OSC and delivered to the homeowner.  
  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer
Safety at the site is being coordinated by the Emergency and Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractors under a unified Site-Specific Health and Safety Plan. A Health and Safety meeting was conducted by ERRS and attended by EPA personnel, Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) personnel, Global Diving Personnel, and Philips personnel.

2.5.2 Liaison Officer
One EPA Community Involvement Coordinator (CIC) is present at the site.  Fact sheets were distributed today to houses in the neighborhood. 

2.5.3 Information Officer
One EPA Public Information Officer (PIO) is at the site to coordinate media relations and neighbors.
3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Cooperating Agencies
4. Personnel On Site
 

 

Friday (4/11/14)
1 - EPA PIO
1 - EPA CIC
2 - EPA On-Scene Coordinators
1 - EPA Attorney
1 - EPA Liasion (Relocation Support)

3- Washington Department of Ecology
9 - START contractors
4 - ERRS contractors
4 - Philips Services personnel (a subcontractor to ERRS)
1 - Social Worker (a subcontractor to ERRS)

Saturday (4/12/14)
1 - EPA PIO
1 - EPA CIC
2 - EPA OSCs

4 - Civil Support Team Members
9 - START Contractors
4 - ERRS Contractors
4 - Philips Services personnel (a subcontractor to ERRS)


A total of 1,170 hours have been spent on-site since the mobilization on 4/7/12. These hours do not include EPA Regional Council, CICs, PIOs, other agencies that have been on-site. It does not include hours spent by EPA contractors off-site.
5. Definition of Terms
  START - Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team
ERRS -  Emergency and Rapid Response Services
CIC - Community Involvement Coordinator
PIO - Public Information Officer
SFD - Seattle Fire Department
6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
Documents and additional information on the site can be found at the following location:
www.epaosc.org/GreenLKChemHouse 

6.2 Reporting Schedule
7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.