U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Belmont Avenue Warehouse 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 and Final PolRep for Air Monitoring
Belmont Avenue Warehouse Fire
Indianapolis, IN
Latitude: 39.7613920 Longitude: -86.1985070
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To:
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From:
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Shelly Lam, On-Scene Coordinator
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Date:
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6/16/2013
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Reporting Period:
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June 15-16, 2013
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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: |
EPA |
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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: |
6/15/2013 |
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Start Date: |
6/15/2013 |
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Demob Date: |
6/16/2013 |
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Completion Date: |
6/16/2013 |
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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
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Incident Category: Spill or other one-time event
1.1.2 Site Description
The site is the Belmont Avenue Warehouse Fire. It is comprised of a warehouse that contained materials for recycling, including tires and asphalt roofing shingles. The warehouse also contained wooden pallets, propane tanks, and heavy equipment. The facility caught fire the morning of June 15, 2013.
1.1.2.1 Location
The site is located at 220 S. Belmont Avenue in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. Site coordinates are 39.7587870 degrees north latitude and 86.1973720 degrees west longitude.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Tires, asphalt shingles, propane, and fuel were involved in the warehouse fire. A large, black, smoke plume was visible as far away as surrounding counties. The Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD) issued a mandatory evacuation for approximately 100 homes downwind of the fire. CSX Transportation, who had rail lines next to the facility, reported the fire to the National Response Center at 16:01 on June 15, 2013 (Incident # 1050531).
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
See Section 2.1.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
The Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) requested assistance with air monitoring from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on June 15, 2013. On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) Shelly Lam responded. OSC Lam mobilized the Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contractor, the Environmental Response Team (ERT), and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
EPA worked in conjunction with MCPHD and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to conduct the response actions listed below. EPA worked with ATSDR to setup the air monitoring and sampling program and establish action levels for public health.
- Deployed ten AreaRAE multi-gas instruments to monitor for volatile organic compounds (VOC). AreaRAEs were located in residential areas northwest, north, northeast, and east of the fire to accommodate for changes in wind direction;
- Deployed two mobile VIPER units connected to DataRAMs for particulate monitoring. The DataRAMs were configured to collect measurements for 2.5 micrometer particulate matter (PM2.5). The mobile teams surveyed in all directions around the fire;
- Conducted air monitoring for sulfuric acid and sulfur dioxide using Single Point Monitors (SPM);
- Conducted air monitoring for benzene using Drager tubes and an UltraRAE;
- Conducted additional air monitoring for sulfur dioxide using Drager tubes;
- Collected air samples for metals, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), asbestos, and sulfur dioxide analysis.
Real-time air monitoring results showed sulfuric acid and sulfur dioxide above the action levels at several locations. These detections were immediately adjacent to the fire and not in any residential areas. Particulate matter exceeded action level for PM2.5 in many areas. However, no other chemicals were detected above the action levels. Based on this data, ATSDR, EPA, and MCPHD recommended to the Incident Commander that residents could return to their homes but should shelter in place if exposed to smoke from the fire to avoid particulate matter. Around 0700 hours on June 16th, IFD lifted the evacuation order.
| Constituent |
Action Level |
Maximum Concentration |
| Sulfuric Acid |
50 ppb |
88 ppb |
| Sulfur Dioxide |
75 ppb |
500 ppb |
| VOC |
1 ppm |
0.6 ppm |
| PM 2.5 |
>1200 µg/m3 |
35 µg/m3 |
| Benzene |
0 ppb |
200 ppb |
ppb - parts per billion
ppm - parts per million
µg/m3 - micrograms per cubic meter
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
EPA is gathering information about the tenants and owners of the building that caught fire.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
IFD diverted fire run-off water into sewer system, which was treated at the sewer treatment plant.
| R5 Priorities Summary |
| This is an Integrated River Assessment. The numbers should overlap. |
Miles of river systems cleaned and/or restored |
0 |
| Cubic yards of contaminated sediments removed and/or capped |
0 |
| Gallons of oil/water recovered |
0 |
| Acres of soil/sediment cleaned up in floodplains and riverbanks |
0 |
| Stand Alone Assessment |
Acres Protected |
0 |
| Number of contaminated residential yards cleaned up |
0 |
| Human Health Exposures Avoided |
300 |
| Number of workers on site |
Unknown |
| Contaminant(s) of Concern |
| Contaminant(s) of Concern |
Sulfuric acid, particulate matter |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
The following sections detail anticipated activities.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
EPA concluded air monitoring operations at 1200 hours on June 16, 2013. The fire was under control, although a few hot spots continued to burn. Smouldering will likely continue until June 17th. However, the only chemicals of concern EPA detected (sulfuric acid and sulfur dioxide) were in the hot zone around the fire and posed no danger to nearby residents.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
EPA will submit air samples for analysis, and will provide sample results to MCPHD and IDEM.
2.2.2 Issues
None
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2.3 Logistics Section
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The firefighter rehabilitation unit provided logistical support.
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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
OSC Lam was the safety officer for EPA's activities.
2.5.2 Liaison Officer
Not applicable (NA)
2.5.3 Information Officer
IFD's Public Information Officer (PIO) served as the lead for media inquiries. OSC Lam provided interviews to three television news stations.
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
A battalion chief from IFD served as Incident Commander.
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
EPA received support from IFD, MCPHD, IDEM, and ATSDR.
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4. Personnel On Site
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The following personnel were supporting air monitoring operations:
| Agency |
Role |
# Personnel |
| EPA |
On-Scene Coordinator |
1 |
| EPA |
Environmental Response Team |
1 |
| ATSDR |
Toxicologist |
1 |
| IDEM |
State OSC |
1 |
| MCPHD |
Hazmat Technicians |
2 |
| START |
Air Monitoring |
4 |
| ERT Contractor |
Equipment Support |
1 |
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5. Definition of Terms
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| ATSDR |
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry |
| CERCLA |
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act |
| EPA |
Environmental Protection Agency |
| ERT |
Environmental Response Team |
| IDEM |
Indiana Department of Environmental Management |
| IFD |
Indianapolis Fire Department |
| MCPHD |
Marion County Public Health Department |
| NA |
Not applicable |
| OSC |
On-Scene Coordinator |
| PAH |
Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons |
| PIO |
Public Information Officer |
| PM 2.5 |
2.5 micron particulate matter |
| PolRep |
Pollution Report |
| ppb |
parts per billion |
| ppm |
parts per million |
| PRP |
Potentially Responsible Party |
| SPM |
Single Point Monitor |
| START |
Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team |
| TDD |
Technical Direction Document |
| 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
The OSC has posted additional information to www.epaosc.org/belmontavefire.
6.2 Reporting Schedule
The OSC will not submit any additional PolReps.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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NA
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