EPA continues to direct response activities at the scene of the InterRoyal Mill fire in Plainfield, CT. Fire fighting and demolition activities have ceased for the time being. EPA has a crane standing by in case further limited demolition (conducted concurrently with dust suppression/watering) is necessary to access remaining smoldering areas within the building and eliminate combustion emissions and sources of airborne (via smoke) contamination.
CTDEP completed conducting area reconnaissance (residential drive-by’s) to further characterize the extent of debris fall-out: an approximately 5 mile by ½ mile area, bordered to the east by Route 12, to the west by the Quinebaug Management Area, and to the north by Sacred Heart Cemetery/Chestnut Street in Brooklyn, CT.
EPA is evaluating total particulate (dusts) air monitoring data from the InterRoyal Mill and surrounding areas to determine the need for further monitoring. Monitoring for airborne particulates has shown that the Time Weighted Average (TWA) dust concentration has decreased, on average, by 25% over the course of the incident. Dust levels continue to be below the incident health action level at all air monitoring stations. The site action level for particulates in air is 150 ug/m3, which was developed by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's (ATSDR) as a recommendation for unrestriced use for this incident.
Debris collection throughout the neighborhood continues despite rains, with EPA’s Emergency Response and Rapid Services (ERRS) teams working 12-hour shifts (0700-1900 hours) through the weekend and following weeks as necessary. Debris collection will be suspended at 1600 hours this evening, however, due to heavy rains and incoming thunderstorms. Cleanup work will resume tomorrow morning at 0700 hours.
Residences and schools have been prioritized for cleanup, followed by publicly-owned properties, open areas, etc. Consistent with previous EPA asbestos removal actions, collection teams are moving through the neighborhood, conducting thorough visual examinations of exterior surfaces and collecting visible debris by hand. Backpack HEPA vacuums are being used to collect fine materials.
To ensure the health and safety of responders, 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 incident health action level of 0.05 fibers/cm3 (one-half of the OSHA 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) PEL of 0.1 fibers/cm3).
Sampling results from the first two days of personal air monitoring are all below the incident action level, except for one sample from a unit that was accidentally dropped on the ground. EPA has determined that a downgrade in level of PPE to Modified Level D is appropriate. Workers will continue debris collection in Modified Level D, except during change-out of HEPA vacuum collection bags, when Level C PPE will be worn. After rains end on Sunday, a containment tent will likely be set up in a central location for emptying and change-out of HEPA vacuum collection bags, during which activities Level C PPE will be worn.
Cleanup teams are targeting the following streets for debris collection today: Basinet Lane, Charles Street, Winsor Avenue, and Lover’s Lane. Residents have been instructed to call the incident hotline should further debris be identified (e.g., falling from trees) after their property has been cleared. Cleanup teams are leaving a fact sheet prepared by EPA’s Public Information Officer (PIO) at each property indicating one of the following: the property has been cleaned and is ready for use; property clearing has begun but is not complete; or property has not been cleared due to access issues (e.g., dogs, locked gates, etc.). The fact sheet also requests that the property owner call the incident hotline should any further debris be discovered.
EPA’s Mobile Command Post (MCP) was relocated to the parking lot at the rear of Plainfield Town Hall. Office trailers are scheduled for delivery, and restoration of the town park (previous MCP location) is scheduled for Monday.
The Plainfield Police Department’s criminal investigation has been completed.
Site security for the emergency response continues to be conducted through ERRS by the Plainfield Police Department. Security will transition from police-lead to a commercial security service once the demolition crane departs the site, but may be needed for the MCP and other incident-specific response equipment now that night operations have ceased. A walk along the Mill’s perimeter fence line by CTDEP identified only one area where the fence is compromised – on the northern side where a ladder and railroad tie were observed lying across the fence. ERRS will address this breach.
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