situation:
Flood waters in Houston recede leaving flotsam in large quantities, some of which is runaway containers. The USCG is also reporting a large quantity of oiled debris and they have been collecting same. Citizen calls for household hazardous waste are being funnelled to the Harris County Pollution control (see contact point on this website).
USCG will address "water borne" runaway containers, and EPA will have the the lead on land based runaway containers that have been stranded by receding water. A large number of propane and/or compressed gas cylinders are expected. A staging area will be arranged with State and local officials.
EPA and USCG crews will call vendors of intact containers and request they come and pick up their product for re-use/re-sale. Non-intact containers may also use vendors to collect, based upon the discretion of the crew relative to public safety and environmental considerations
Tomorrow will begin inspection of Superfund NPL and major RCRA and Oil sites in the flooded area. Preliminary recon on these sites will be aerial using project Safeguard, and is being conducted today. Region 6 has requested and received backup OSC support from Region 7 for project safeguard. RRT ESF 10 conference call tomorrow to address disposal methods of oiled debris
Media interest in certain phases of the flood work has intensified, with TV interviews today relative to public health issues and drowned laboratory test animals. FEMA DFO expected to "stand up" in next 24-48 hours.
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