EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
EPA efforts in New York affiliated with damage caused by Tropical Storm Lee have intensified as additional resources and assets arrive in Broome and Tioga Counties.  A community outreach program has been initiated and a Community Involvement Coordinator will be deployed to the area.  EPA representatives continue to work with NYSDEC personnel on identifying additional HHW collection and staging areas as calls for HHW assistance into the EPA Public Liaison continue to increase.  Two staging areas are currently operational, however additional sites will be finalized.  EPA has deployed an additional OSC to coordinate activities at the Binghamton EOC.

Operations in New Jersey continued as previously identified, with a focus of actions taking place at the Dover HHW staging area and Paterson locations.  Activities in the Saddle River located in South Hackensack have been completed.

Activities in NY associated with Irene continued as planned.  HHW staging areas continue to receive materials as preparations are being made for disposal.  EPA is reviewing the amount of materials being received to determine the length of time for operations to continue.  

HURRICANE IRENE OPERATIONS (NJ/NY)

Emergency Response Task Force

·         The Task Force was not activated.

NEW JERSEY RESPONSE ACTIONS

Passaic County

Oil / Hazardous Materials Response and Recovery Actions

• Orphan containers were collected from Woodland Park, Little Falls, Wayne, Clifton, and Pompton Lakes.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

·         EPA continued to coordinate with DPW on the potential use of a facility in Paterson for staging HHW.

Bergen County

Oil / Hazardous Materials Response and Recovery Actions

·         The recovery of sorbent materials in the Saddle River in South Hackensack has been retrieved and moved to the Dover HHW area.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

·         No HHW staging areas have been established by EPA in Bergen County.

Morris County

Oil / Hazardous Materials Response and Recovery Actions

·         No response or recovery actions taken. 

 Household Hazardous Waste / Bulk Liquid Collection and Disposal

·         Dover - The HHW staging and processing facility continued to receive materials from the tri-county area.  Segregation and categorization of materials continued as materials were bulked and hazcatted.  Preparations for the shipment of non-regulated paint have commenced.

·         Lake Hiawatha – Materials were moved to the Dover HHW staging area.

·         Denville – Materials were moved to the Dover HHW staging area.

·         Riverdale – No activities occurred at this bulk waste storage area.

·         Whippany – No activities occurred at this bulk waste storage area.

Below is a summary table for NJ Incident Reports associated with Irene as of 1422 on 9/14/2011.  The table includes their status and materials involved.

NEW YORK RESPONSE ACTIONS

NYSDEC Region 4 Area 

Oil / Hazardous Materials Response and Recovery Actions

·         EPA conducted orphan container assessments in Middleburgh.  An assessment of the Delaware Valley Propane Company was also conducted.

·         The 1500 pound propane tank found in the Hudson River in Catskill (Holcim Facility) was removed by a fishing vessel.

·         Ammunition was found in the Arkville staging area.  The police was called in to have it removed.

·         Crews removed HHW dropped off at the Unadilla municipality operated staging area.

·         Curbside collection of HHW and orphan recovery efforts continued in Gallupville, Esperance, Middleburgh, Schoharie (all in Schoharie County), Arkville (Delaware County), and areas around Oak Hill and Prattsville (Greene County).  Of significance, six 55-gallon drums were removed from a residential yard in Middleburgh while 275 gallon tanks were found in numerous fields in Esperance.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

·         Greene County

·         Hunter – Facility was operational.

·         Windham – Facility was operational. 

·         Catskill – Facility was operational. 

·         Prattsville – Facility was operational.

·         Delaware County

·         Arkville – Facility was operational, however it is projected to close on 9/18/2011.

·         Sidney – No information was made available.

·         Schoharie County

·         Howes Cave – This central HHW staging area for the NYSDEC Region 4 area was operational and receiving materials.  Preparations have commenced for the transport and disposal of bulk material.

·         Schoharie Debris Pile – Crews continued to segregate and containerize HHW that was received.

NYSDEC Region 5 Area

Oil / Hazardous Materials Response and Recovery Actions

·         No information was available at time of reporting.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

·         Lewis – No information was available at time of reporting..

Below is a summary table for NY Incident Reports associated with Irene as of 1422 on 9/14/2011.  The table includes their status and materials involved.

CUMULATIVE HAZARDOUS WASTE SUMMERY TABLE

Below is a summery table indicating the amount of containers collected through HHW and orphan container recovery efforts in response to Hurricane Irene.  This data was collected at 1422 on 09/14/2011.  Container counts may include numbers not previously reported from past operational periods.

The Region 2 Regional Emergency Operations Center (REOC) has generated a draft letter to submit to municipalities where HHW collection has become slow.  The letter is in the review process.  A plan was generated to maintain Day-Time Response operations while efforts in support of TS Lee activities increase and resources become stretched. 

Additional resources have been ordered and deployed to the Binghamton area to assist with initial reconnaissance missions, recovery of oil/hazardous materials, and orphan containers.  Additional assets were requested by the Dover staging area manager for chemical technicians. 

The daily safety message is posted on the regional incident website: http://www.epaosc.org/R2HurricaneIreneResponse.  EPA Safety Officers conducted safety visits at the Catskill, Hunter, Windham, Prattsville, Sidney and Owego HHW sites on 9/13/11. Site specific HASP development is continues for specific work locations as new locations are identified.    

A Liaison Officer has not yet been assigned however coordination activities are being done at several locations and with multiple Federal and State Agencies.

Pat Seppi is the Public Information Officer and can be reached at 646-369-0068.  The PIO worked on the following:

·         Generated information regarding HHW for broadcasting on radio throughout Broome and Tioga Counties.

·         Addressed Mission Assignment questions from Congressman Hinchy’s office.

·         Larisa Romanowski 515-703-0101, CIC for NYSDEC Region 4

·         Generated PSA for Schoharie HHW.

·         Generated messaging for the ending of HHW pickup in Greene County.

·         Posted information on the EPA facebook page. 

·         Natalie Loney, CIC for NYSDEC Region 7 will deploy to Binghamton on 09/15/2011.

·         David Kluesner, 908-420-7261CIC for NJ, will be deployed to Paterson on 09/15/2011. 

Unified Command is currently not activated at this level.

EPA is currently coordinating with FEMA, NYS DEC, NYS DOH, NJ DEP, NYSEMO, NJOEM.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

WEBSITE:  http://www.epaosc.org/R2HurricaneIreneResponse

If you find that you are having trouble viewing the website, please contact the EPA duty officer at (732) 906-6850

EPA Edison REOC                                                                         732-906-6850

Afterhours Notifications, National Response Center (NRC)             800-424-8802
Regional Incident Commander (RIC) for NY, James Daloia             908-420-4505
Regional Incident Commander (RIC) for NJ, Christopher Jimenez    908-420-4484

FEMA IMAT (Albany), Dwayne Harrington, OSC                          908-420-4492

Binghamton EOC, Ellen Banner, OSC                                              908-420-4462 

Starting September 16, 2011 Situation Reports will be released twice a week.  Generation of the report will be on Sunday and Wednesday evenings. 

Looting and civil unrest in Owego, NY has become a concern.  A heavy police presence has been activated.

The REOC coordinated responses in Westampton and Edison, NJ, however these were not related to Irene or Lee.

General Weather for the next Operational Period:

·         In NJ operational areas, thunderstorms and rain is expected.  Temperatures from 64-81.

·         In NY operational areas, thunderstorms are expected with temperatures from 53-70.