ER Response Planning (Andy Smith)
On Tuesday, December 22, Ecology and EPA will be briefing Renton, Tukwila, and Auburn on our response plan.

The Hazardous Materials Task Force (lead by King County Public Health with city participation, Ecology, and EPA) met on Wednesday, December 23.  Their primary interest has been in outreach to communities and businesses to mitigate release of hazardous materials.  In doing their outreach they have developed GIS information identifying potential hazmat sites.  Using Arc Reader software and after downloading information from a King County FTP site, users will be able to view and zoom in and out on a map showing the various sites.

A hard copy printout is in the REOC.

One issue that the Task Force is pursuing is to site “corrals” in various cities outside the flood plain to which businesses given sufficient warning could temporarily move fuel or hazardous material products that they are using.  However, the challenge is being able to answer the legal responsibilities and liabilities for any entity that is willing to host such a “corral”.  Absent this, businesses will run the risk of wither leaving products on site in a flood or on their own move and store product to perhaps less secured sites than a pre-designated “corral”.  This issue was raised with Regional Response Team on Thursday December 17.

Ecology has visited 254 small quantity generators and high risk sites.  In addition, Ecology has done outreach at cleanup sites and underground storage tank sites.  The outreach involves handing out brochures (see Documents Section)and advising on mitigation steps that can be taken.

State Department of Agriculture has sent out 1200 letters for turning in pesticides

Meeting attendees have sensed community apathy setting in due to the reduction in risk of flooding.

Next meeting of the Task Force is January 20, 2010.  A main agenda item will be to discuss changing the charter to address flood and post-flood response issues.  Up to now, this task force has been focused on pre-flood planning and hazmat mitigation.

Superfund and RCRA Sites (Howard Orlean)

No updates to report

GIS Support (Scott Augustine)
No updates to report

King County Public Health Environmental Sampling Support (Michael Boykin)

On Thursday, December 17, Michael Boykin and Bryan Vasser (START), met with King County Public Health and Ecology on the sampling program.

EPA with START support has developed a Concept of Operations and a General Flood Water Sampling Plan.  EPA has been asked to provide a Targeted Facility Sampling Plan for 12 high priority sites.  These plans would be designed to sample for products of concern that might be released from the facilities.  The plans will not sample inside fence line of facilities.

In general, the plans are for King County and Ecology to implement.  EPA would provide sampling support for a large flood.

Sampling teams would fold into Operations Section in the ESF-10 Unified Command.  However, it is anticipated that public risk communication will be made by King County and/or cities through the PIO in the King County Regional Communication and Emergency Coordination Center.

ESF-10 Response Plans (Josie Clark)
EPA and USCG hosted an RRT activation call on Thursday, December 17 dedicated to the Howard Hanson Dam/Green River flood.  Representatives from EPA, USCG, DOT, FEMA, HHS, DOI, GSA, Or DEQ, NOAA, and Ecology were on the call.

The EPA IC, Andy Smith, raised the issue of locals trying to find sites for “corrals”.

FEMA ESF-10 Desk Officer Staffing (Michael Sibley)
No updates to report.

Water Infrastructure Response Team (Eric Winiecki)
No updates to report.

Washington State Emergency Operation Center SitRep #23 (12/17/09)

ESF-10 Hazardous Material Response:  Ecology is updating “Department of Ecology’s Preparation and Response Plan for Green River Flooding” to reflect work done since September.  The updated plan will be posted on WebEOC and Ecology’s website the week of Dec 21.  Ecology is finalizing a “Focus” information sheet on proper handling of sandbags and sand after a flood.  Ecology and Public Health Seattle & King Co. (PHSKC) will meet on Dec. 17 to discuss public health and safety environmental sampling.   PHSKC has a draft Concept of Operations and a draft Sampling & Analysis plan for review.  KING TV is interested in doing a story on the handling of hazardous materials, and how businesses, residents, Ecology and King County are working to reduce that hazard in the event of a flood.   Ecology is working with the King County’s Hazardous Waste Program’s PIO, and the Hazardous Material Task Force to prepare descriptions of the actions taken to protect human health and safety and the environment.

FEMA R-10 RRC Watch (12/18/09)

HOWARD HANSON DAM, WASHINGTON – [STEADY STATE]

Region X Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) continues a Level III activation for planning support to Washington State for potential flooding of the Green River Basin.  The National Weather Service-Seattle advises that there is no threat of river flooding for the next week including the Green River. To assist the National Weather Service's Seattle office with precipitation forecasting, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently installed a temporary weather station at a Pierce County Public Works and Utilities (PWU) site near Spanaway. The station will provide information on the amount of moisture expected to fall in the Green River drainage basin above the Howard Hanson Dam in King County and elsewhere in the basin. The new sensors measure how storms and atmospheric rivers (narrow corridors of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere) evolve as they move landward from the ocean into the mountains. That helps forecasters predict Green River flows, and it helps the Corps of Engineers estimate how much water is heading into the reservoir.