U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Charleston WV Chemical Leak - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region III
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Subject:
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POLREP #9
Continuation of Response Activities/Removal Assessment
Charleston WV Chemical Leak
Charleston, WV
Latitude: 38.3685800 Longitude: -81.6066300
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To:
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Cindy Santiago, USEPA R3
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From:
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Dennis Matlock and Melissa Linden, On-Scene Coordinators
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Date:
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3/8/2014
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Reporting Period:
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through 3/7/2014
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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: |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Assessment |
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NPL Status: |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
1/9/2014 |
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Start Date: |
1/9/2014 |
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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
Tank failure and subsequent chemical release into the Elk River, Etowah, WV.
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1.1.2 Site Description
The Site consists of one breached tank, which is component to the facility, along with the soils beneath the tank, the pathway towards the Elk River, and the affected portion of the Elk River.
1.1.2.1 Location
The incident occurred at the Freedom Industries, located at 1015 Barlow Drive, Charleston, Kanawha County, WV 25311.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
An imminent substantial endangerment to welfare and/or the public caused by a chemical release.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
WVDEP conducted the initial assessment of the scene, in response to an odor complaint to their Air Division. EPA mobilized to the Site and assumed a support role to WVDEP. EPA received reports through WVDEP that the chemical was identified as "Eastman Crude MCHM", which is a mixture of components, predominantly 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol. There is a licorice odor to the compound, which is caused by 4-(methoxymethyl) cyclohexanemethanol. The material was classified as non-toxic. However, analytical testing for this particular compound, did not exist at the time of the release. Since then, WVAWC, assisted by Dupont, has developed a method and continued to sample the processed water at the drinking water plant.
The spill occurred from one of three tanks that contain the MCHM/PPH. The secondary containment around the tanks was inadequate and failed. It was estimated by the RP in a letter dated January 23, 2014, that 10,124 gallons of the chemical were released. However, the volume of the chemical that actually entered the river is uncertain.
The RP utilized facility personnel and initiated the hiring of contractors to place boom along the left descending bank of the Elk River, adjacent to the area of the spill. The RP also hired contractors to conduct land clean-up operations.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
See previous POLREPs for site information and actions conducted from January 9, 2014 through March 2, 2014.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
During this reporting period, two tanks were reported to still have fatty acid heels that need to be removed. One of the tanks was sampled. The attorneys, facility, and EPA CID split samples of the material, collected by the facility's contractor. After tank 393 was cut open, the level of material was measured and approximately 5’2” of material, or 62,000 gallons, of fatty acid material remains in the tank.
The facility’s contractor collected the weekly water sample from the intercept trench for treatability testing on March 5, 2014.
The RP’s contractor conducted monitoring of the sumps and intercept trench. Pumping operations from the sump, outside of the containment area, and the intercept trench, occurred as needed. All of the water that was collected was pumped into on-site tanks and will be tested and disposed of in accordance with applicable state and federal requirements. The pumping frequency at the intercept trench varied between approximately 1 to 7 hours, depending on temperature, precipitation events, snow/ice melting, and whether they are pumping water from sumps/culverts within the containment area.
The facility’s contractor received the Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure (SPLP) test results for the trial load of waste water from the Poca Blending Facility (Poca) to Waste Management DSI in Hurricane, WV (DSI).
Multiple loads of contaminated soil were shipped off site to the landfill. One piece of excavation equipment was decontaminated and will be removed off site.
A contractor was brought in to conduct asbestos testing of the gaskets of the tanks on-site. Testing was conducted on March 7, 2014.
The facility's contractor continues to maintain the boom along the shoreline of the Elk River as directed by WVDEP.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The Responsible Party is identified as Freedom Industries, and is under orders from WVDEP. There are four orders and one revision to an order. Orders include: a cease and desist order; an order to develop a plan to empty all 14 tanks on Site; an order to remove all material from on-site above ground storage tanks (AST) by March 15, 2014; an order to report all on-site and all information of MCHM/PPH; and an order to begin to dismantle all ASTs on or before March 15, 2014.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Pre-Shipment Quantity in Storage (gallons)
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Quantity Shipped (gallons) |
Quantity Remaining after shipment (gallons)
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Date Shipped
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Disposal |
MCHM/PPH
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liquid |
100,233
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100,233 |
Starting quantity 1/21/2014
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transport off-site |
| MCHM/PPH |
liquid
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100,233 |
10,217 |
90,016 |
2/6/2014 - 2/16/2014
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transport off-site
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| MCHM/PPH |
liquid
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90,016
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5,180
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84,836 |
2/17/2014
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transport off-site
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| MCHM/PPH |
liquid
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84,836
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7,000
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77,836
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2/19/2014
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transfer to permanent storage
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| MCHM/PPH |
liquid
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77,836
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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, EPA's contractors, and the USCG will support WVDEP's oversight of removal activities. The priority at this time is to contain the source and prevent further discharge of contaminants to the river. Future activities will include an assessment of the extent of contamination on Site, preparing a plan for tank demolition procedures, and a site remediation plan.. EPA will provide support to WVDEP with sampling activities, and other technical support, upon request.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
- Divert the runoff water that is entering the containment area;
- Maintain/improve as necessary the intercept trench between the Site and the Elk River;
- Dismantle the MCHM tanks on Site and provide the necessary portions of the tanks to investigative entities;
- Remove the three MCHM tanks from the Site.
2.2.2 Issues
- There is the possibility of an unknown amount of MCHM/PPH and potentially other chemical liquids may exist beneath the tank;
- There is an unknown amount of MCHM/PPH that has seeped into the soils/materials located along the river bank;
- There is a large amount of water (approximately 650,000 gallons), potentially contaminated with MCHM, stored in tanks on Site.
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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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2.5.1 Safety Officer
Freedom Industries
EPA OSC on Site (Advisory Role)
2.5.2 Liaison Officer
EPA Mark Ferrell
2.5.3 Information Officer
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command/Facility (Freedom Industries)
WVDEP
USEPA
USCG
Freedom Industries
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR)
National Guard
West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (WVDNR)
Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO)
West Virginia American WaterWorks Company (WVAWC)
Chemical Safety Board (CSB)
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
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4. Personnel On Site
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WVDEP
USEPA
START (TechLaw)
Freedom Industries
Civil & Environmental Consultants
Diversified Services LLC
MidAtlantic Environmental
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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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No information available at this time.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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