EPA continues to work closely with the Plainfield, CT Fire Department, Fire Marshall’s Office, CTDEP, ATSDR, and local health department to characterize and remediate asbestos contamination in Plainfield, CT due to the fire at InterRoyal Mill.
EPA continues to conduct total particulate (dusts) air monitoring at the InterRoyal Mill and surrounding areas. Dust levels remain above the health action level at only one air monitoring station – located between the mill and the 20 homes currently evacuated between 1st and 2nd streets. The site action level is the OSHA Permissible Exposure Level [PEL] of 150 ug/m3 – National Ambient Air Quality Standard [NAAQS] based on exposure averaged over 24 hours. EPA will be closely monitoring dust levels until levels are reduced to below the OSHA PEL, including during this evening’s limited demolition activities (conducted concurrently with dust suppression/watering) to eliminate combustion emissions and access remaining smoldering areas within the building.
EPA has completed contaminant-specific air sampling for asbestos and lead. No contamination was detected above the instrument detection limits for all asbestos and lead samples collected. No further contaminant-specific air sampling is planned at this time.
Sampling results from debris and ash present in residential yards and elsewhere in the community indicate asbestos contamination to be present.
EPA has activated its Emergency and Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractor, and assembled 5 teams for debris collection throughout the neighborhood. Debris collection is scheduled to commence today at 1400 and run through 1900 hours, through the weekend from 0700 – 1900 hours, and through the following week as necessary. Consistent with previous EPA asbestos removal actions, collection teams will move through the neighborhood, conducting thorough visual examinations of exterior surfaces (lawns, roofs, gutters, spouts, etc.) and collecting by hand visible debris. Fine materials may be collected with vacuum trucks.
Collected materials will be analyzed by the on-site EPA mobile laboratory using Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM), with 10% of samples being sent to a laboratory for confirmatory Total Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis. To expedite the characterization of the horizontal extent of contamination (fall-out area), debris samples collected from locations 2-5 miles north of the mill will be analyzed first.
The Health and Safety Plan (HASP) developed for the emergency response requires at least 2 days of personal air monitoring (chest pumps) for cleanup workers. Workers will be able to downgrade level of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) if sampling results show airborne asbestos concentrations below the OSHA 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) PEL of 0.1 fibers/cm3.
The evacuation of homes on 1st and 2nd streets, as well as Plainfield school closures, will remain in place until dust levels are reduced to below the OSHA PEL.
Twenty-four hour site security for the emergency response continues to be maintained by the local police department.
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