United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region V
POLLUTION REPORT



Date:
Friday, August 12, 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: 

Continuation of Emergency Response
EQ Resource Recovery
36345 Van Born Road, Romulus, MI
Latitude: 42.2654150
Longitude: -83.3955830


POLREP No.:
2
Site #:
Reporting Period:
August 11, 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 11, 2005, air monitoring activities with RAT, Area Raes, TAGA, and ASPECT continued.  TAGA real-time air sample analysis began around the perimeter of the facility and in the downwind neighborhood.  Results showed that the highest analyte detected was ethylbenzene, at a concentration of 300 ppb.  All other analytes were below 30 ppb.  In addition, the TAGA analyzed three summa canister air samples, which were collected from the plume during the fire, and determined the highest reading was propylene at 12.9 ppb.  Based on the results and a conference call with ATSDR, the Wayne County Health Department (WCHD) and the Incident Command (IC) determined that the evacuation of the residential neighborhood could be lifted.  REAC collected four wipe samples (two on the upwind side of the house and two on the downwind side of the house) from 20 residential properties for a total of 80 wipe samples.  Samples are being analyzed at the ERT laboratory for Base Neutral Acids (BNAs) and metal analytes.  EQ mobilized equipment to extinguish the remaining fires and initiate clean up activities.  These operations were postponed until 08/12/2005 due to darkness.  EQ also deployed Coffer dams upstream and downstream of the site to contain any potential run off.  US Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team mobilized to assist EPA with cost documentation and health and safety/medical monitoring.


Planned Removal Actions

EQ will begin conducting a clean up on August 12, 2005.  EPA will oversee clean up activities and continue air monitoring.


Next Steps

1. Continue air sampling activities, including TAGA, AreaRae, and RAT.
2. Begin oversite of clean up activities.
3. Provide results from the initial wipe samples to ATSDR and WCHD.


Key Issues

1. US Coast Guard has begun cost documentation to be included in all  future POLREPs.
2. EPA, ATSDR, and Wayne County Health Department will discuss the results of the initial wipe sampling and make recommendations to the Incident Command.


response.epa.gov/EQResourceRecovery