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Minot ND Floods-2011

 
Site Contact:
Paul Peronard
OSC

(peronard.paul@epa.gov)

Site Location:
Minot, ND 58701
 response.epa.gov/MinotNDFloods-2011

In late June 2011 the Souris River overtopped its banks causing extensive flooding in Ward and McHenry Counties in North Dakota. In Minot, ND over 4,000 homes and businesses were inundated with flood waters, with over 2,000 structures completely submerged. The nearby towns of Burlington, Sawyer, and Velva were also impacted. FEMA has issued a Mission Assignment to EPA to accomplish four objectives: Remove household hazardous wastes from the impacted area; decontaminate and prepare white goods and e-waste for recycling; collect and process orphan containers; and to conduct environmental monitoring and sampling in impacted and work areas. Initial recon was begun on July 11, 2011.



View to the south looking at the staging and processing pad in the afternoon on 9/24/2011. ER team finishing up crushing the last of the empty metal containers. So that they can be recycled as scrap metal on 9/25/2011. Taken down and clean section of staging processing pad. Looking at overpacked household hazardous waste overpacked and oragnized. This will be picked up on 9/25/2011 to be disposed of or recycled properly. Looking south at empty LPG tanks and over-packed household hazarous waste that will be picked up on 9/25/2011. Looking at southwest section of staging and processing pad that has been cleaned up and taken down. ER team finishing cleaning up and taking down staging and processing pad. Semi-truck trailer getting loaded with packaged e-waste from staging and processing pad. ER crew working on organizing empty containers on the northwest section on the staging and processing PAD. Packed and organized household hazardous waste on southeast section of staging and processing PAD. Looking at packed and organized household hazardous waste on northwest section of staging and processing PAD. ER crew organizing and cleaning up south section of staging and processing PAD. Looking at packed and organized household hazardous waste on staging and processing PAD. ER crew working on organizng empty container section of staging and processing PAD. ER crew loading excavated material into truck. ER crew scraping clean asbestos from a property ER crew watering down area while excavation is ongoing Two e-waste shipments left site on 9/21/11. The ER crew is loading e-waste into the trailer for off site shipment on 9/21/11. Two roll-offs containing latex paint was shipped off site on 9/21/11. Bags of asbestos packed to be picked up EPA finding bags of asbestos ER crew excavating debris containing asbestos ER crew member water down debris pile as they excavate to supress dust Orphan drums being loaded on the pad Orphan container being HAZ classed Pile of debris containing vermiculte after being watered down Pile of debris containing vermiculite ER crew excavating vermiculite pile Second Set of propane tanks coming out of the water. The two sets of propane tanks (net 3000 gallons each) set to return to owner, Tank removed from the river Tank moving across the river Tank rigged for transfer across the river Tree removal from the river in preparation for tank removal EPA contractors clear trees in preparation for tank removal EPA contractors load drums onto a truck for shipping Truck loaded with drums for shipping off site EPA contractors bulk containers into drums for disposal EPA contractor unloads white goods at the pad for freon removal EPA contractor sweeps streets in Burlington collecting debris Submerged truck is removed from the river Cables are attached to a submerged truck in preparation for towing Roll-off loading operations Roll-off loaded with paint prepared for shipping Debris containing vermiculite outside a residential property EPA contractors load orphan drums onto a trailer for removal EPA contractors load orphan drums onto a trailer for removal Washed up tanks EPA contractors remove an orphan oil tank Roll-off dumpster ready for shipping off site EPA contractors load waste paint into a roll-off for removal EPA START contractor collects a sample from a tank with unknown contents EPA START contractor collects a sample from a drum with unknown contents START contractor investigates ground surface at a residential property for vermiculite Material with compromised containers are stored in totes to prevent leakage START contractor collecting samples of unknown materials EPA contractors at the pad site unload bins of materials collected from neighborhood pickup routes Bags of asbestos containing material prepared for pickup. Pallets of waste paint prepared for disposal. EPA contractor unloads electronic waste from collection trailer at the pad site. Area of unknown materials on the pad site. EPA contractors are in in the process of identifying unknowns and preparing for disposal. Overview of operations at the pad site Loading of electronic waste for shipping off site EPA START contractor sampling a drum for hazard classification Fuel bulking operations at the pad site EPA and START personnel inspecting building debris for the presence of asbestos containing material EPA contractors use a vacuum truck to remove vermiculite from a residential property Berm adjacent to Minot residence Building demolition debris observed during asbestos recon Asbestos (vermiculite) containing debris outside a residence Habitat for Humanity was hit hard due to the flood damage. EPA contractors collected 650 gallons of paint from their facility. Habitat for Humanity was hit hard due to the flood damage. EPA contractors collected 650 gallons of paint from their facility. Habitat for Humanity was hit hard due to the flood damage. EPA contractors collected 650 gallons of paint from their facility. Habitat for Humanity was hit hard due to the flood damage. EPA contractors collected 650 gallons of paint from their facility. Habitat for Humanity was hit hard due to the flood damage. EPA contractors collected 650 gallons of paint from their facility. The Ops Pad crew prepared refrigerators for recycling. The Ops Pad crew prepared refrigerators for recycling. The Ops Pad crew packed flammable containers into steel drums on 8/27/11. The aerosol containers were packed into steel drums for disposal. Several drums were recovered and sampled at a 35 acre property in Burlington,ND. Pad Ops crew drained Freon from refrigerators at the landfill. The river crew recovered a 300-gallon tank from an oxbow in Burlington, ND on 8/23/11. START is in the process of testing unknowns for hazard classification. START is sampling the unknown chemical drums for Hazard Class identification. START is preparing to sample unknown chemical containers. Several Liquid Propane Cylinders were shipped on Aug. 22,2011. Waste containers marked with spray paint after hazard classifcation. Blue for caustic, black for oil, gold for pesticides, etc. Sampling waste containers for hazardous characteristics Household wastes staged for testing for hazardous characteristics. A few of the many orphaned containers in an oxbow in Burlington, ND Progress in the refrigerator processing area as illustrated by the vacant space. Hazard classified containers ready for processing into waste streams. Large sized propane tanks being removed off site. Return of Orphaned Propane tanks to the Ferrell Gas Company Last of the bagged asbestos staged at the landfill being removed for disposal. Houshold hazardous debris picked up in Velva. Hazard classifying unknown chemicals inside the EPA Level A truck. EPA Level A truck set up for hazard classifying unknowns. Five gallon container of latex paint from Canada. Dismantled small engines awaiting off-site transport and recycling. Crew removing orphaned containers from boat and truck. Partially vacant pad space with remaining refrigerators staged for freon removal. Staging palletized paint cans for off-site transport. Off-loading refrigerators for freon recycling. Palletizing electronic waste for off-site transport and recycling. Off-loading one-gallon paint containers. Staging unknown containers for hazard classification. Refridgerators that have had freon removed and are ready for compaction and transport for recycling. Lawn mower disassembly area. Freon removal operations using two machines. Fence made of welded freon cylinders. Portion of 500 1-gallon paint cans recovered from Habitat for Humanity. Large propane tanks recovered from river drainage. Prepping freon removed refrigerators for compaction and recycling. Bulking lantern fuel. Packaging empty flammable liquid containers for disposal. Empty drums and containers being transported for disposal. Staging flammable liquids for bulking. Unknown hazard classified waste staged for disposal. Waste paints staged on pallets prior to disposal processing. Bagged asbestos debris (vermiculite) waiting for transport to licensed landfill for disposal. ERRS crew removing freon from refridgerators. Small engine dis-assembly area. E-waste on pallets ready for off site transport. Empty gasoline cans leaving staging area. Tank of conpressed helium Mixing tank and fuels storage tank recoverd from river drainage. Aerosol spray cans holding area. Typical load out for household hazardous wastes. Small engine recycling area. Staging location to recycle small engines. Off-loading asbestos containing materials into a roll-off container. Roll-off containers with asbestos and paint cans ready for off-site transport. Staging of pressurized gas cylinders. Prepping refrigerators for freon removal. START Hazclassing unknown containers. Palletizing paint cans. ER crew doing a removal at a residence ER crew using heavy equipment to remove debris containing vermiculite Pile of covered vermiculite prior to being removed by the hurricane vac unit Gutted home with two piles of loose vermiculite in front Pile of vermiculite insulation bagged and identified by a Minot home owner. Turtle Crossing Truck Stainless Steel Process Tank Poly Tank 2 Poly Tank LP Tanks in river against bridge Large LP Tank Collection Point Paint Cans Collection Point 55 Gallon Drum and Fuel Tank 55 Gallon Drum Next to River 55 Gallons of used oil Overview of household hazardous waste pad Bulking waste gasoilne for off site recycling. Placing e-wastes into containers prior to off site transport. Latex paint placed in roll off container prior to transport off site. Small engines to be recycled for gasoline and oil. Bag of Zonolite Insulation taken outside by homeowner Small engines for recycling gasoline and oil. The Ops Pad Crew is packing pesticides into poly drums for disposal. Close up of debris pile containing vermiculite ER members remove bags filled with vermiculite from curbside The river crew recovered several chemical containers from the river. Preparation of the Haz Class area for testing of the remainder of liquid in the spray bottles. Further preparation being completed on the asbestos pad located at the Minot Landfill ER workers line a truck to begin removing loose debris from curbside location This large tank was recovered from the river on August 6, 2011. vermiculite pile outside home START team member taking water sample from floating drum START team member taking a sample inside floating tank An abestos crew personel unloading bags of asbestos containing material recovered from the neighborhoods in Minot. The Ops Pad crew has made progress on packaging up the caustic waste. Burito wrapping asbestos bags asbestos crew bagging vermiculite Two large tanks recovered from the river on August 4, 2011. Pad Ops crew unloading drums recovered from the river. Pad Ops worker is segrating chemicals on the pad. The Haz Classing area located on the pad surrounded by unknowns. Pad Ops entry way with the white good pad in the background. Pad Ops workers packing latex paint into a roll-oof. Vermiculite removal Recon of the river American Flag found in the debris flying proudly at the segregation pad. Pallets of flammable 1 gallon paint cans are marked with a red X. Hauling away of crushed Inert White Goods. Crushing of Inert White Goods (no freon) for disposal. Loading of processed white goods white goods processing Bailer processing and loading white goods aluminum phospide tablet containers (fumigant and rodent control) picked during household hazardous waste collection fire extinguishing grenade box at houshold hazardous waste staging area Fire extinguishing grenade containing carbon tetrachloride picked up as household hazardous waste. monitoring organic vapors during unloading of household hazardous waste in staging area The collection pad at the landfill. The collection pad. Propane tanks on the collection pad awaiting shipment. Aerosol cans on the collection pad awaiting shipment. Segregated waste ready for shipment. Waste segregation on the pad at the landfill. Air Sampling Monitoring/Station Within the Impacted Area ERRS contractor securing paint cans for disposal household hazardous waste inventory household hazardous waste staging area Environmental Restoration, LLC, (ERRS contractor) unloading household hazardous waster EPA ERRS contractor household hazardous waste collection trailer and truck at landfill EPA ERRS contractor staging household hazardous waste at landfill Army Corps of Engineers contractor unloading appliances at landfill with EPA START contractor air monitoring during household hazardous waste collection - evacuation area 3 EPA ERRS contractor crew collecting household hazardous waste and electronic waste in evacuation area 3 ERRS crew unloading refrigerators at landfill pad EPA contractor (ERRS) crew unloading refrigerators at the landfill staging area water damaged applicances and debris in landfill refrigerators being unloaded at landfill staging area water damaged applicances in landfill near entrance refrigerators and other water damaged items on red cross parking lot Evacuation area 3 - monitoring for organic vapors water damaged items household hazardous containers in refrigerator. flood damaged items in evacuation zone 3, household hazardous waste in separate box household chemical waste segregated from rest of water damaged items by resident ERRS crew unloading trailers into electronic waste staging area at landfill access road construction at planned landfill staging area. appliance and household hazardous waste staging areas at landfill ditch and planned culvert location after rain storm epa mobile command post and office trailer at minot landfill landfill staging area under construction cleanup in neighborhood where water recently receded drums and containers in oxbow lake adj to Riverside Ave drums and debris in oxbow lake adj to Riverside Avenue debris including drums and household containers along road water damaged debris on curb debris in trees after water has receded water damaged items from homes on curbside planned staging area at landfill facing pole barn. landfill planned staging area for household and e-waste ditch in planned household and e-waste staging area w/ pole barn in background planned staging area for household hazardous waste and electronic waste near pole barn pole barn at landfill and staging area before prep landfill staging area (before prep) and pole barn debris - including household chemicals on Souris River at pedestrian bridge pedestrian bridge on Souris River with trapped debris Flood damage buildings south of Souris River Flood damaged house next to Souris River water flowing from neighborhood south of the university into the receding Souris River flooded homes and trackhoe - note high water mark on house flooded house and out building within dike stranded containers on dike after water receded flooded house flooded homes south of the university flooded home south of the university Swamped trackhoe between dikes flooded homes behind dike along Broadway Floodwaters receding from neighborhood south of Mint State University Souris River at 16th SW bridge flooded homes behind dike along Souris River.
For additional information, visit the Pollution/Situation Report (Pol/Sitreps) section.