United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region V
POLLUTION REPORT



Date:
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
From:
Jon Gulch

To:
David Chung, U.S. EPA
Richard Karl, U.S. EPA
Linda Nachowicz, U.S. EPA
Jason El-Zein, U.S. EPA
Afif Marouf, U.S. EPA
Stuart Hill, U.S. EPA
John Maritote, U.S. EPA
Maria Gonzalez, U.S. EPA
Elissa Speizman, U.S. EPA
Phil Hoffman, U.S. EPA
Kaushalya Khanna, U.S. EPA
Phillippa Cannon, US EPA
Mary Canavan, US EPA
Mel Moore, Wayne Fire Department
David Allison, Romulus Fire Department
Gary Zikovitz, Environment Canada
Duty Officer, USCG
Tim Curry, USEPA Region7
Mark Thomas, USEPA
Mark Johnson, ATSDR

Subject: 

Initial Pollution Report
EQ Resource Recovery
36345 Van Born Road, Romulus, MI
Latitude: 42.2654150
Longitude: -83.3955830


POLREP No.:
1
Site #:
Reporting Period:
August 9-10, 2005
D.O. #:
Start Date:
8/9/2005
Response Authority:
CERCLA
Mob Date:
8/9/2005
Response Type:
Emergency
Demob Date:
 
NPL Status:
Non NPL
Completion Date:
 
Incident Category:
Removal Action
CERCLIS ID #:
Contract #
RCRIS ID #:
 

Site Description

The EQ Resource Recovery chemical fire is located at 36345 Van Born Rd., Romulus, MI (Latitude 42.1581 & Longitude -83.2388). The evacuation area, which includes about 900 homes, includes the areas surrounded by Cogswell to Wayne Rd. and Van Born Rd. to Annapolis Rd. The Incident Command and the EPA Command Post are located on Treadwell.  


Current Activities

On August 9, 2005, EPA mobilized to the EQ Resource Recovery facility to assist local police, fire, and HAZMAT teams with response activities to a chemical explosion and fire. EPA mobilized its mobil command post and air trailer along with the Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START). Personnel worked in conjunction with HAZMAT and fire teams to conduct air monitoring throughout impacted residential areas. Approximately 900 residents were evacuated, businesses in the vicinity of the fire were closed, and Van Born Rd. was closed.

On August 10, 2005, air monitoring activities continue. EPA mobilized the EPA-Emergency Response Team (ERT) Trace Atmosphere Gas Analyzer (TAGA) air sampling bus to the site. EPA began conducting air monitoring throughout the evacuation area with the Rapid Assessment Tool (RAT). RAT is being deployed every two hours to collect real timee air monitoring results in the affected area. RAT is monitoring for VOCs, O2, LEL, H2S, CO, and particulates. AreaRaes were deployed at five locations throughout the evacuation area. AreaRaes are constantly monitoring the air for VOCs, O2, LEL, H2S, and CO. The U.S. EPA ASPECT air sampling plane completed two missions over the area. START conducted two level B PPE entries to collect two air samples from the exclusion zone, collected six wipe samples from residents with visual debris fallout, two air samples from upwind and downwind of the fire plume for ERT laboratory analysis.  

On August 11, 2005, air monitoring activities continue. TAGA air sample analysis begins.


Planned Removal Actions

EQ will begin conducting a clean up on August 11, 2005. EPA will oversee clean up activities and continue air monitoring.


Next Steps

1.Continue TAGA air sampling
2.Continue RAT and AreaRae air monitoring
3.Conduct oversite of clean up activities


Key Issues

None.


response.epa.gov/EQResourceRecovery