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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
R4:B4L4 R6:A6B |
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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: |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Assessment |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
8/14/2011 |
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Start Date: |
8/15/2011 |
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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.: |
R6:985947 R4:985947 |
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State Notification: |
YES |
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FPN#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category: Emergency Response
1.1.2 Site Description: Pearl River system impacted by discharge from the Temple-Inland Bogalusa Paperboard Mill (TIN, Inc.) facility.
1.1.2.1 Location: Pearl River System from Bogalusa, LA south to I-10 including the border between Louisiana and Mississippi.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat: A very large fish kill was observed including other aquatic animals death or stressed.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results: On 08/09/2011, a paper mill located in Bogalusa, La released black pulp liquor into the Pearl River. After receiving notification from a local media station, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) responded on 08/13/2011 to investigate the incident. They observed numerous dead fish as well as foam and a dark brown/black discoloration of the river.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative: On Saturday, August 13, MDEQ assessed the Pearl River for a fish kill after receiving a NRC report submitted by a private individual. On August 14, MDEQ contacted EPA Region 4 Duty Officer for assistance. Also, on August 14, EPA Region 4 Duty Officer contacted the EPA Region 6 Duty Officer to relay the information since the Pearl River runs along the state line between Louisiana and Mississippi. An estimated 100,000 fish and other species were impacted. The cause of the fish kill appears to be a release of Black Liquor from the Temple-Inland Paper Mill in Bogalusa, LA. Two Region 4 OSCs with START support were deployed to assist MDEQ at there request with response and coordination. One Region 6 OSC with START support was deployed to the Louisiana side to coordinate with LDEQ.
2.1.2 Multi-Agency/State Coordination Call:
8/18/11 1100 MEETING SUMMARY
Multi Agency/State coordination call participants
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
Louisiana Department of Health
Fish and Wildlife Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Louisiana Poison Control Center
City of New Orleans EMA
EPA Regions 4 and 6
Meeting notes:
• LDEQ reported that an overflight was conducted of West Pearl River. It is visually harder to detect the plume now, perhaps partially due to the fact that many of the tributaries in the lower West Pearl have dark waters naturally. Dissolved Oxygen was offered as a better indicator of plume migration in thse areas. Looks like DO conditions have improved and the plume is being rapidly dissipated as it enters the Rigolets.
• Boat operations in West Pearl River reported no DO readings below 4.
• No dead fish found below Highway 90 Bridge. Main stem stream is recovering.
• There appears to be Black Liquor and dead fish trapped in some slough areas that attach to the West Pearl River.
• DO in the Pearl River ranges from 6 to 7.
• It appears there are 50% less dead fish in the river than previous day. Apparently, wildlife are eating the dead carcasses.
• EPA R4 and MDEQ continue to monitor water quality in the Pearl River at six locations two times a day. EPA R4 plans to transition efforts to MDEQ during next operational period. EPA R4 will confer with MDEQ to identify any continuing needs or requests and remain on-scene tomorrow.
• Facility has hired a contractor to remove dead fish in the West Pearl River. Contractor reportedly currently has 30 boats and obtaining more. Facility did receive permit to remove dead fish yesterday and will dispose fish at a landfill in Washington Parish. Disposal location has not yet been found on MS side of the Pearl. On the Mississippi side, facility may hire local fisherman to assist with collection efforts.
• Preliminary analytical data from Region 4 will be available soon. Lab analytical will be available tomorrow.
• Extra water flow from Ross Barnett Reservoir will cease tonight. Extra water will take about 2 days to make its way down to impacted area of Pearl River.
• Conference call will be held on Friday at 1100 hours EST.
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities: Assessment and investigation activites will continue as EPA R4 and R6 support the impacted states and foster communications among all agencies. EPA, MDEQ, and Region 6 START are reconning river from Walkiah Bluff down river to Wilson Slough.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities: LDEQ will continue the assessment of the river quality monitoring and sampling; MDEQ will continue screening along the East Pearl and Holmes River. Natural Resource Trustees will coordinate with the collection and inventory of dead animals in the impacted area. The RP's contractors will continue to collect dead fish from the waterways. A process was developed to notify the appropriate state and federal agencies of specified species.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps: Preliminary data will begin to arrive and will be distributed. MDEQ and LDEQ have been requested to provide their respective screening levels to be include in the data table for reference. EPA Region 4 and 6 will coordinate compiling both the MDEQ and the LDEQ into one KMZ file. Interpretation and evaluation of the data will determine what and if any, other celan-up and enforcement activities are necessary.
2.2.2 Issues: Incident occured on the Pearl River, which is on the border of two states of two EPA regions involving numerous state and federal agencies.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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No information available at this time.
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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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No information available at this time.
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3. Participating Entities
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No information available at this time.
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4. Personnel On Site
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No information available at this time.
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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
For additional background material, please see:
EPA R4: www.epaosc.org/PearlRiverFishKill EPA R6: www.epaosc.org/R6-TINPearlRiverSpill
6.2 Reporting Schedule
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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