On April 30, 2006 a fire occurred at the Highside Chemicals plant located at 1114 Reichold Road within an industrial area of Gulfport, Mississippi. The fire completely destroyed the facility, which produced a number of priopetary products including "Leak Lock" a popular pipe joint sealant. The primary hazardous material stored at the facility was ethyl alcohol. Other materials included various dyes used in the formulation process. There were initial concerns that carcinogens were involved in the fire and that runoff may contain hazardous materials. MSDEQ requested air monitoring assistance from the EPA, via the USCG GST.
A Federal On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) was deployed to the incident from Atlanta, Georgia, and the USCG GST was deployed from Mobile, Alabama to provide assistance with air monitoring and oversite of the cleanup.
Upon arrival at the site, the OSC was briefed by the MDEQ responder, facility personnel, and GST. At that time, the fire was essentially out and there was no smoke plume being emitted. Other than detections of carbon monoxide, GST reported that they had not detected any indications of elevated levels of hazardous substances during their air monitoring activities. Runoff from the north and east portion of the plant had been contained on the facility property. The runoff appeared to consist of water colored brigh green by dyes released during the fire. Runoff from the sourthern portion of the plant was contained with a drainage ditch that had been blocked with an earthen dam at its eastern end. Samples of the runoff had been collected by an MDEQ contractor for analysis at a local laboratory. Upon mutual agreement between MDEQ and EPA, all response personnel were demobilized from the site for the evening. GST was demobilized back to their Mobile duty station. One plant representative remained on-site throughtout the night to monitor the facility for fire outbreaks.
On May 1, 2006 EPA, MDEQ, an MDEQ contractor, and facility personnel returned to the site. An inventory was made of remaining drums and other containers staged at the facility. Most containers appeared to have been empty before the fire or had their contents burned during the fire. Plant personnel began to make arrangements for cleanup of the fire debris. MDEQ and EPA agreed that site conditions appeared to be stabilized and that should analytical results indicate that hazardous substances were contained in runoff on the facility grounds, the State would consult EPA as to the appropriate course of action. Otherwise, MDEQ would oversee debris cleanup and waste managment. The OSC demobilized from the site on the afternoon of May 1, 2006 and returned to his Atlanta duty station of the morning of May 2nd.
No further removal actions are planned for the site.
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