Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Holcomb & Hoke Warehouse Fire
Indianapolis, IN - EPA Region V
POLREP #4
Progress PolRep

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Holcomb & Hoke Warehouse Fire - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V

Subject:

POLREP #4
Progress PolRep
Holcomb & Hoke Warehouse Fire

Indianapolis, IN
Latitude: 39.7404510 Longitude: -86.1337630

To:

From:

Shelly Lam, On-Scene Coordinator

Date:

9/20/2013

Reporting Period:

September 16 - 20, 2013

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:	C5W8	Contract Number:	EP-S5-09-05
D.O. Number:		Action Memo Date:
Response Authority:	CERCLA	Response Type:	Emergency
Response Lead:	EPA	Incident Category:	Removal Action
NPL Status:	Non NPL	Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:	9/10/2013	Start Date:	9/11/2013
Demob Date:		Completion Date:
CERCLIS ID:		RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:
FPN#:		Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Incident Category: Manufacturing/Processing/Maintenance

1.1.2 Site Description
The site is the former Holcomb & Hoke Manufacturing Company. Holcomb & Hoke purchased the property in 1903, and began operations in 1906. They manufactured popcorn poppers, paint brushes, wall panels, and other items throughout their history. The facility has been abandoned for several years.

The site is over 8 acres in size and contains multiple buildings, including an office building; former manufacturing and processing buildings, including a building used for electroplating; and a flammable storage building.

1.1.2.1 Location
Holcomb & Hoke is located at 1545 Van Buren Street in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. Site coordinates are 39.7404510 degrees north latitude and 86.1337630 degrees west longitude. Adjacent properties include a railroad and industrial facility to the north; an industrial facility to the east; residential properties to the south; and a vacant field to the west, beyond which are additional residences and Interstate 65 (I-65).

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The facility caught fire on September 8, 2013 and burned for about 15 hours. Drums and asbestos-containing material (ACM) were involved in the fire. Radar images during the fire showed wind from the east, with debris from the fire possibly deposited to the west. Additionally, response personnel reported that the wind shifted, coming from the south during the fire, with additional possible deposition to the north. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) reported the fire and possible releases to the National Response Center (NRC) on September 10, 2013 (NRC #1059783).

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

Asbestos Samples
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received results from asbestos samples collected on September 11th. Of the bulk samples collected, four contained chrysotile asbestos ranging from 2 to 20 percent (%). These samples consisted of floor tile (3-4%), mastic (2%), and pipe wrap (20%).

EPA also collected five air samples for asbestos analysis, including two blanks, one upwind of the facility, one downwind, and one placed on the contractor collecting asbestos samples. Air samples were non-detect for asbestos at less than 7.01 fibers per square millimeter.

Asbestos is a hazardous substance as defined by section 101(14) of CERCLA.

Ash Samples
EPA collected four ash samples to determine if metals presented a threat to human health. The ash results were compared to EPA's Removal Management Levels (RML) for industrial soil (August 12, 2012).

In sample HH-Ash02-091113, lead exceed the RML of 800 micrograms per kilogram (mg/kg) at a concentration of 1,130 mg/kg.
In samples HH-Ash01-091113, HH-Ash03-091113, and HH-Ash04-091113, all constituents were below the RMLs.

Lead is a hazardous substance as defined by section 101(14) of CERCLA.

Bag House Dust Samples
EPA collected a sample of dust from the bag house for metals analysis. All constituents were below the RMLs.

Drum/Container Samples
EPA sampled 4 drums and containers for volatile organic compounds (VOC) and flashpoint. One container was sampled for pH.

In sample HH-WL03-091113, all VOCs were non-detect and flashpoint was above 180 degrees Fahrenheit (°F).
In sample HH-WL04-091113, 2-butanone (methyl ethyl ketone [MEK]) was detected at a concentration of 200,000 micrograms per liter (ug/L); ethylbenzene at 62,500 ug/L; methylene chloride at 28,900 ug/L; 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene at 39,800 ug/L; and total xylenes at 238,000 ug/L. Flashpoint was above 180° F.
In sample HH-WL05-091113, ethylbenzene was detected at 29,800,000 ug/L; isopropylbenzene (cumene) at 493,000 ug/L; n-propylbenzene at 176,000 ug/L; styrene at 1,160,000 ug/L; toluene at 933,000 ug/L; 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene at 42,800 ug/L; 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene at 38,700 ug/L; and total xylenes at 68,300,000 ug/L. Flashpoint was 86° F.
In sample HH-WL06-091113, MEK was detected at 177,000,000 ug/L; ethylbenzene at 2,200,000 ug/L; methylene chloride at 30,400 ug/L; 4-methyl-2-pentanone (MIBK) at 135,000 ug/L; styrene at 57,800 ug/L; toluene at 50,000 ug/L; and total xylenes at 8,230,000 ug/L. Flashpoint was 66° F.
In sample HH-WL07-091113, pH was measured at 1.0 standard units (SU).

Two samples met the characteristic for ignitability as established in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 261.21. The samples had flashpoint below 140° F. One sample met the characteristic for corrosivity, established in 40 CFR § 261.22. Two samples met the characteristic for toxicity established in 40 CFR § 261.24 for MEK. As such, several containers were characteristic for hazardous waste, including HH-WL04-091113, HH-WL05-091113, HH-WL06-091113, and HH-WL07-091113. Additionally, MEK, cumene, ethylbenzene, methylene chloride, MIBK, styrene, toluene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, and xylenes are hazardous substances as defined by section 101(14) of CERCLA.

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative
IMPD requested assistance from EPA on September 10, 2013. IMPD requested that EPA assess environmental hazards on-site that could interfere with the fire scene investigation. On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) Shelly Lam mobilized to the site on September 10th and met with a detective from IMPD. OSC Lam mobilized the Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contractor on September 10th and work began on September 11th.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
On September 16, 2013, EPA requested analysis for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) on samples that tested positive for VOCs. Sample results indicated:

HH-WL04-091113 had gasoline-range organics (GRO) at 11,800 milligrams per liter (mg/L), diesel-range organics (DRO) at 8,350 mg/L, and extended-range organics (ERO) at 714 mg/L;
HH-WL05-091113 had GRO at 1,770,000 mg/kg, DRO at 892,000 mg/kg, and ERO at 894,000 mg/kg; and
HH-WL05-091113 only had GRO at 66,800 mg/kg.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
EPA will attempt to identify PRPs and determine if they are financially viable to perform removal actions. The OSC received information that the property is in receivership.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

*Waste Stream*	*Medium*	*Quantity*	*Manifest #*	*Treatment*	*Disposal*
Pending

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
The following sections detail anticipated activities.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
EPA staged and secured drums in a Conex box on-site, pending disposal. EPA may collect additional samples, if necessary, and provide support as requested to IMPD and Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD).

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
EPA will determine if there is a PRP who can conduct removal actions. If there is not a viable PRP, EPA will prepare an Action Memorandum for a fund-lead removal.

2.2.2 Issues
None.

2.3 Logistics Section

Not applicable (NA)

2.4 Finance Section

No information available at this time.

2.5 Other Command Staff

2.5.1 Safety Officer
NA

2.5.2 Liaison Officer
NA

2.5.3 Information Officer
There has been extensive media interest in the fire and media reports of suspected ACM downwind. To date, EPA has not received any requests for media interviews.

3. Participating Entities

3.1 Unified Command
NA

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
EPA received support from IMPD, IFD, and the Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD).

4. Personnel On Site

No one from EPA was on-site during the reporting period.

5. Definition of Terms

°F	Degrees Fahrenheit
ACM	Asbestos-Containing Material
CERCLA	Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
CFR	Code of Federal Regulations
DRO	Diesel-Range Organics
EPA	Environmental Protection Agency
ERO	Extended-Range Organics
ERRS	Emergency and Rapid Response Services
GRO	Gasoline-Range Organics
I-65	Interstate 65
IFD	Indianapolis Fire Department
IMPD	Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
MCPHD	Marion County Public Health Department
MEK	Methyl ethyl ketone
mg/kg	milligrams per kilogram
mg/L	milligrams per liter
MIBK	4-Methyl-2-pentanone
NA	Not applicable
NRC	National Response Center
OSC	On-Scene Coordinator
PolRep	Pollution Report
PRP	Potentially Responsible Party
RCRA	Resource Conversation and Recovery Act
RML	Removal Management Levels
START	Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team
SU	Standard Units
TDD	Technical Direction Document
TPH	Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons
ug/L	micrograms per liter
VOC	Volatile Organic Compounds

6. Additional sources of information

6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
Additional information is available at www.epaosc.org/holcombandhoke.

6.2 Reporting Schedule
OSC Lam will submit the next Pollution Report (PolRep) if EPA is called to the site to assess additional drums found in the fire debris or when disposal activities begin.

7. Situational Reference Materials