1.1 Site Description

See POLREP #1, Special Bulletin for additional site description information.  The Site is located in a residential area in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware.  The site is a two-story house on Lighthouse Lane with an attached garage and basement in the Beacon Hill neighborhood in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware. Similar occupied houses surround the site on all sides. Numerous chemicals and hazardous substances are being stored throughout the basement, garage, and two rooms in the house. A makeshift laboratory appears to be set up in a bedroom on the second floor of the house.

The most significant threats posed by the Site include: 1). potential direct contact with numerous hazardous substances and unknown chemicals being stored throughout the Site; 2) the potential release of acids, caustics, solvents, combustible chemicals, and inorganic chemicals into the environment; and 3) the threat of fire or explosion posed by flammable, combustible, and explosive chemicals at the Site. Such fire would likely release acid vapors affecting the surrounding community and responders. These threats would result in the release of hazardous substances constituting a "release" as defined in Section 101(22) of CERCLA, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 9601(22).

On March 27, 2011, OSC Rupert met with the property owner to discuss the current situation including continued access and possible EPA activities.  The resident indicated she did not have the financial means to address these issues and granted EPA access to continue to enter the property, remove and dispose of the chemicals and hazardous substances.

On March 28, 2011, OSC Rupert assumed the lead for the site.  EPA mobilized ERRS to the Site to began further site inventory and characterization of chemicals as well as preparations for disposal.  ERRS mobilized a Response Manager, Chemist, and two Technicians.  ERRS arranged for site security during non-work hours and a connex box was brought to site to provide a secure storage location.  New Castle County Bomb Squad agreed to respond and address the explosive chemicals stored in the basement.  In order for the bomb squad to be able to access the cabinet containing picric acid and other explosive chemicals, several items had to be moved.  ERRS began removing flammable liquids being stored in close proximity to the house’s furnace as well as items impeding access to the explosive chemicals.  The items removed were classified by the on-site chemist and then placed in 55-gallon drums for disposal.  START performed air monitoring and documentation activities during these activities.  In addition, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) prepared a fact sheet with information about the Site and distributed it to residents in the area.

At approximately 1830, New Castle County Bomb Squad entered the Site and removed 6 containers of picric acid and 2 containers of dinitrophenol.  These containers were transported to a remote location and detonated.

On March 29, 2011, ERRS continued to inventory, characterize chemicals and remove and stage items for disposal.  Due to the time critical nature of the response and large volume of items for disposal, ERRS is procuring a subcontractor assist with on-site lab packing.  Due to the exigent circumstances posed by Site conditions, the subcontract is expected to be in place by Friday, April 1st, 2011.  As of March 30, 2011 all chemicals identified as flammable or potentially explosive have been removed from the residence.