U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Jasper Municipal Utilities Coal Fire - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V
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Subject:
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POLREP #1
Initial PolRep
Jasper Municipal Utilities Coal Fire
C580
Jasper, IN
Latitude: 38.4004480 Longitude: -86.9149630
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To:
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From:
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Shelly Lam & Jaime Brown, On-Scene Coordinator
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Date:
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8/17/2011
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Reporting Period:
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August 16, 2011, 1930 to August 17, 2011, 1500
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
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Contract Number: |
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D.O. Number: |
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Action Memo Date: |
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Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Emergency |
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Response Lead: |
PRP |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
8/16/2011 |
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Start Date: |
8/16/2011 |
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Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
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FPN#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency response - power plant
1.1.2 Site Description
1.1.2.1 Location
The Jasper Municipal Utilities Power Plant is located at 1163 East 15th Street in Jasper, Dubois County, Indiana. Site coordinates are latitude 38.4004480 north and longitude 86.9149630 west. The site is located in a mixed use area, including industrial, residential, and agricultural areas. To the north are industrial factories. To the east is a public riverwalk and agricultural areas. A residence bounds the site to the south. Industrial facilities and residences are located to the west.
The site is a municipally-owned coal-fired power plant. The facility only operates intermittantly.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Coal stored at the Jasper Municipal Utilities Power Plant spontaneously combusted on August 16, 2011. Approximately 200 to 300 tons of coal are stored in a bin inside the plant. The coal cannot be removed and firefighting efforts have not been effective at extinguishing the fire. Current plans are to extinguish the fire by consuming the coal to generate electricity. Facility operators estimate that the coal will be consumed by August 18th.
A plume of smoke is discharging from the facility into the neighorhoring areas. Combustion by-products of coal include nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
At the request of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conducting air monitoring. EPA and the Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contractor have deployed AreaRAEs and the Rapid Assessment Tool (RAT). EPA is collecting monitoring data for volatile organic compounds (VOC), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulates.
EPA has conducted a cursory review of monitoring data and compared the results to action levels provided by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Maximum results were 5.0 parts per million (ppm) for VOC, 0.3 ppm for SO2, 2.8 ppm for NO2, 800 ppm for CO, and 213 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) for particulates. These concentrations do not appear to have been sustained for more than a few minutes. However, EPA is conducting more extensive analysis of the data and comparing the time-weighted averages (TWA) to the action levels.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
On August 16, 2011, EPA responded to a fire at the Jasper Municipal Utilities Power Plant at the request of IDEM. EPA is conducting air monitoring and sampling to determine if there is a threat to public health from the uncontrolled combustion of coal.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
For the period from August 16 to 1500 hours on August 17, 2011, EPA conducted the following activities:
- Mobilized two On-Scene Coordinators (OSC) and four START contractors;
- Conducted air monitoring using AreaRAEs and RAT. AreaRAEs were placed in residential and industrial areas. RAT monitoring was conducted downwind and in residential and industrial areas;
- Collected one air sample for laboratory analysis;
- Consulted with ATSDR, Dubois County Health Department, and IDEM regarding action levels and public health;
- Worked with IDEM on obtaining information on other potential sources of air pollution and ambient air quality data;
- Met with city and county officials; and
- Conducted a press conference.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
Information on the PRP is in the site file.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
Not applicable (NA)
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
EPA will continue air monitoring until the coal fire is out.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
EPA will collect additional samples for laboratory analysis.
2.2.2 Issues
None.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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NA
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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
The OSCs are the overall safety officers for the response. START has prepared a Health and Safety Plan (HASP).
2.6 Liaison Officer
NA
2.7 Information Officer
2.7.1 Public Information Officer
OSC Lam and respresentatives from IDEM and the City of Jasper conducted a press conference at 1400 hours at August 17th. Channel 18 News, WITZ 990 AM, The Herald, Dubois County Free Press, and Ferdinand News attended the press conference and are expected to issue news releases notifying the community of response actions.
2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
NA
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
NA
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
EPA is receiving assistance from the following agencies:
IDEM
ATSDR
Dubois County Health Department
City of Jasper
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4. Personnel On Site
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Personnel are working 12-hour shifts. The following represents a count of the EPA and contract personnel involved in the response.
2 EPA OSC
4 START contractors
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5. Definition of Terms
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| ATSDR |
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry |
| CO |
Carbon monoxide |
| EPA |
Environmental Protection Agency |
| HASP |
Health and Safety Plan |
| IDEM |
Indiana Department of Environmental Management |
| NA |
Not applicable |
| NO2 |
Nitrogen dioxide |
| OSC |
On-Scene Coordinator |
| PolRep |
Pollution Report |
| ppm |
parts per million |
| PRP |
Potentially Responsible Party |
| RAT |
Rapid Assessment Tool |
| SO2 |
Sulfur dioxide |
| START |
Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team |
| TWA |
Time-weighted average |
| ug/m3 |
micrograms per cubic meter |
| VOC |
Volatile organic compounds |
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6. Additional sources of information
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
Additional information is located at www.epaosc.org/jmucoalfire.
6.2 Reporting Schedule
The next PolRep will be submitted on August 18th.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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NA
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