On 01/15/2014, OSC Smith mobilized to the ORSANCO offices in Cincinnati, OH, at the request of the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (KDEP). The purpose of the deployment was for EPA to better understand the issues associated with the contaminant plume in the Ohio River, which originated from a spill of Methylcyclohexanemethanol at the Freedom Industries facility in Charleston, WV on January 19, 2014. EPA's response to this incident involves monitoring the status of the drinking water plants in Kentucky, and to respond to any requests for assistance from KDEP. The OSC has deployed the EPA Environmental Response Team (ERT) to assist with evaluation of analytical methods for detecting MCHM in water. The OSC also deployed the Region 4 Superfund and Technical Assistance Team (START) contractor Tetra Tech to compile data produced during this incident and to map the plume as it travels downstream.
Click here to access the Region 3 website on the Charleston WV Chemical Leak
