The Chesapeake Fire Marshall reported a urea ammonium nitrate spill to EPA on November 12th. The spill originated from the Allied Terminals Compound in Chesapeake, VA. An EPA OSC is on site to assist the local Fire Department and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the leads for the response.
Early estimates indicated a 250,000 gallon spill from the facility. A 2.3 million gallon aboveground steel roof fixed tank collapsed during repairs. More accurate figures show that the tank spilled 2 million gallons of urea ammonium nitrate (liquid fertilizer) into its containment and the adjacent area. The spill flooded three city streets and some yards, and moved toward the Elizabeth River. Two workers doing tank maintenance were injured and taken to the hospital.
The Allied facility has hired HEPACO to conduct the cleanup in the area. The initial cleanup focused heavily on removing liquids from residential areas by using berms, dams, and pumping liquids into frac trucks.
The reponse has downgraded to focus on the facility area. Product has been completely removed from the failed tank area as of yesterday evening. Allied has estimated their total release based on 2,128,154 gallons of product released to be 223,605.11 pounds of ammonia.
Allied contractors continue to monitor neighborhood drainage areas and contain additional rainwater still in stagnant ditches. Allied is continuing air monitoring operations. The facility has been communicating with neighbors to address their concerns. Ammonia odors can sporadically be detected as storage trucks and vacuum trucks move around.
The Chesapeake Fire Department has reduced its staff to two hazmat officers. Hazmat officers will remain on site until 1900 hrs today. A fire marshal will remain on scene until operations are outside the facility complete. Police security will remain on scene until Allied contractors are able to remove their equipment out of the main road. EPA will be on scene through this evening. EPA will continue to monitor activities on scene until the roof of the tank is removed from the berm, to verify if any additional product needs to be addressed.
VDEQ has arranged to monitor water quality along the Elizabeth River. These efforts will include sampling and boat operations tomorrow. EPA will support DEQ river operations.
EPA continues monitoring onsite water quality along outfalls, and ditches and spot air monitoring.
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