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Executive Summary
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The Howard Hanson flood control dam that protects a warehouse and industry-filled valley south of Seattle is leaking through the right (North) abutment. The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has lower the water behind the dam to prevent a catastrophic failure. Thus the dam has limited capacity to serve as flood control which greatly increases the likelihood of a flood in the Green River Valley to a one in three chance. EPA is planning for a flood response both internally, and with our external partners.
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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1.1.1 Incident Category
We expect to respond initially under our CERCLA and OPA authorities, with a Disaster Declaration and Stafford Act funding to follow within one week of a large flood.
1.1.2 Site Description
The area is predominantly warehouses, industry and commercial with some residential areas. It serves as the warehouse district for the Port of Seattle. The inundation area is approximately 2 miles east to west and 10 miles north to south. If this area were to flood, there would be significant regional economic impacts due to the limitations on moving goods.
1.1.2.1 Location
The portion of the Green River Valley that is vulnerable to flooding is within the Cities of Auburn, Kent, Renton and Tukwila, and parts of unincorporated King County. This is directly south of the City of Seattle.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
"Built in 1961, the Howard Hanson Dam transformed the Green River Valley below it. Once an agricultural area that routinely flooded during heavy storms, the valley became one of the nation's largest warehouse districts, along with thousands of homes, stores, factories, hotels and restaurants. Seepage through the dam's right abutment has caused concerns for much of its life. Improvements were made in 1965, and again in 2002, but engineers are worried the problem may have worsened." - Seattle Times article, June 24, 2009
A storm that dumped 15 inches of rain in 24 hours resulted in fast flowing, muddy water in the dam's drainage well. The Corps has lowered the water level behind the dam to 1/3 of its capacity to prevent a catastrophic failure of the dam, and plans to keep that water that low for the next 5 years until the leak is fixed. This limits the USACE's ability to control flooding in the Green River Valley, and therefore all emergency response agencies in the valley are preparing to respond to flooding.
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1.2 Incident Objectives
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None determined for the planning phase.
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1.3 Critical Resource Needs
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The planning team needs to have an individual from ECL identified who can assist with analysis of CERCLA sites in the inundation area.[I'm not certain I understand the need for this position. I would suggest RPMs with affected sites be pulled under this planning effort. I've already spoken with Chris Bellovary regarding Western Processing and Renee Dagseth regarding lower Duwamish. - AMS]
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1.4 Strategic Considerations
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Models prepared by the USACE do not predict flooding in the South Park neighborhood where the EPA Warehouse is located. The current plan is to use the warehouse as the Inicident Command Post (ICP) and staging area.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
We are currently planning for the following potential operations:
- Environmental sampling - Floodwater and soil post flooding
- Oil and/or hazmat release mitigation
- Orphan container collection and disposal
- Household hazardous waste
- Water infrastructure support
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Narrative
In the next operational period, we are anticipating the following activities:
- Continue to refine a unified command response with Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) for oil and hazmat response during a flood.
- Finalize a joint EPA/Ecology response plan to provide to local EOCs as well as other response partners.
- Inform local, regional, state, and federal partners of the hazmat/oil response structure and lines of communications.
- Clarify EPA Water Team role in water and wastewater infrastructure support to the USACE under ESF-3.
- Consolidate the planning efforts among the EPA Region 10 environmental media programs and planning efforts by using an ICS organizational structure. This will ensure coordination and communication among EPA Region 10 staff and serve as one-stop shopping for EPA management on Region 10 Green River planning efforts.
- Continue to aprise FEMA of EPA ESF-10 planning results.
We have received GIS support from Scott Augustine.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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None
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2.4 Finance Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.5 Other Command Staff
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2.5.1 Safety Officer
None. We don't anticipate any safety issues on this response that we are not already capable of handling.
2.6 Liaison Officer
Mike Sibley and Josie Clark are handling the interagency coordination among Federal agencies. They are primarily coordinating with USCG, FEMA, USACE and HHS. Andy Smith and Mike Boykin are coordinating with County and State agencies. They are primarily working with Washington Department of Ecology and King County Public Health.
2.7 Information Officer
King County is taking the lead on public outreach. They are going door to door with flyers and staff, encouraging folks to prepare for a flood. USACE is putting out press releases regarding the general situation. We do not see a need for EPA public information at this time. USACE this week has put out map of flood scenarios on their web site.
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
US EPA, Region 10
Washington Department of Ecology
King County Public Health (maybe)
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
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4. Personnel On Site
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None
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5. Definition of Terms
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No information available at this time.
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6. Additional sources of information
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
Please see the following websites for additional information about the unfolding situation:
http://www.nws.usace.army.mil/PublicMenu/Doc_list.cfm?sitename=HHD&pagename=Pool_Restriction
http://www.kingcounty.gov/safety/FloodPlan/GreenRiverValley.aspx
6.2 Reporting Schedule
We will provide one SitRep each Friday.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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Please see the documents section of the website for additional reference materials.
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