On August 30, 2004, Hurricane Gaston deluged the Richmond VA area with over 14 inches of rain in a 2-hour period during a Monday rush hour. Eight persons died in the flood.
As a result, state and local officials requested EPA assistance with containment and mitigation of releases from containers of hazardous substances.
During EPA's assessment, an oil spill was discovered in the canal to the James River. Additionally, approximately 4 drums of oil were retrieved from the canal.
Because this oil was released to a navigable waterway, EPA requested funds in the amount of $20,000 from the USCG NPFC to mitigate the spill.
An emergency Task Order was issued to IMS, one of EPA Region III's ERRS contractors. The scope of the task order calls for the removal, mitigation, and containment of spilled oil.
On the evening of September 4, IMS secured a vacuum truck to remove the oil which had spilled into the canal. Drums of oil are temporarily staged in an area provided by the City of Richmond.
EPA will arrange for the transportation of disposal of the containers of oil once the assessment is complete.
Since the source of the spill was a natural disaster, EPA will work with the Commonwealth of Virginia to determine if they have the means necessary to perform disposal. If not, Virginia may request assistance for FEMA.
If a mission assignment for the disposal of these materials is issued to EPA, costs under this FPN will be discontinued.
There is no identifiable responsible party since the source of the spill was a natural disaster. The source of the oil in the canal is unknown at this time.
|
