|
1. Introduction
|
|
|
1.1 Background
|
|
|
|
|
Site Number: |
B43Z |
|
Contract Number: |
|
|
D.O. Number: |
|
|
Action Memo Date: |
|
|
Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
|
Response Type: |
Emergency |
|
Response Lead: |
PRP |
|
Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
|
NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
|
Operable Unit: |
|
|
Mobilization Date: |
6/27/2014 |
|
Start Date: |
6/27/2014 |
|
Demob Date: |
6/27/2014 |
|
Completion Date: |
6/27/2014 |
|
CERCLIS ID: |
SCR000776880 |
|
RCRIS ID: |
|
|
ERNS No.: |
|
|
State Notification: |
|
|
FPN#: |
|
|
Reimbursable Account #: |
|
1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency Response
1.1.2 Site Description
The New Life Chemical Company is a blending and repackaging plant of surplus or off-specification chemicals. The facility consists of five buildings over approximately 5.5 acres and includes a laboratory, blending facilities, and chemical warehouse.
1.1.2.1 Location
The New Life Chemical Plant is located at 15 North Kings Road in Greenville, South Carolina. It is located less than 900 feet north of interstate I-85 and 180 feet west of the Reedy River. It is immediately surrounded by light industrial and commercial facilities to the east and south but there is a neighborhood of more than 100 private residences beginning just 70 feet north of the facility.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Sodium Hydrosulfite [CAS 7775-14-6] (also known as Sodium Dithionite) is a spontaneously combustible solid powder that reacts with water or moisture in the air.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
As part of a product manufacture process, dry sodium hydrosulfite and soda ash are combined into a hopper from which they are repackaged. Due to quality control concerns, an 8,000 pound batch on the afternoon of 6/26/2014 was set aside by operators fur further evaluation. The material was temporarily divided and placed into four "super sacks" (a woven polypropylene container) and was left in the hopper building. On the morning of 6/27/2014, an employee arrived at approximately 0500hrs and discovered a while plume of smoke eminating from the hopper building. The contents of at least one super sack had cumbusted and impacted an adjacent sack.
|
|
2. Current Activities
|
|
|
2.1 Operations Section
|
|
|
|
2.1.1 Narrative
Local firefighters responded and made entry into the hopper building wearing level A personal protective gear to find the product and begin smothering it with additional soda ash. No water was used in order to prevent additional reactions.
The reaction released a white airborne plume likely consisting of water acidic liquid vapors. The plume traveled south, downhill, towards interstate I-85. Access to N Kings Ct was blocked and any persons within adjacent buildings were evacuated. Other facilities on N Kings Ct and the residences north of the facility were notified and allowed to evaluate voluntarily. The plume dissipated prior to reaching interstate I-85 so the interstate was not shut down.
New Life Chemical Co. hired JBR Environmental to respond to the incident and complete smothering activities of the impacted material using available soda ash on-site. These impacted materials were then transferred, by hand, to several open totes of water. A total of eight 275-gallon totes were used for the operation. Exothermic reactions continued in the water bath but no vapors or gas was released and water temperatures did not exceed 130 degrees (fahrenheit).
OSC Huyser toured the facility and baghouse. The fire appeared to be localized near a doorway and impacted one wall of the building but did not damage the hopper or other equipment. Totes containing impacted material were stored under a shed outside the building. White powder on the pavement outside the baghouse was observed from equipment tracking through the building to move materials but it was determined that this was soda ash that had been laid over the floor of the building to absorb any residual materials. An inspection around the building did not find any water infiltration of water through broken pipes or rainwater leaks; OSC Huyser agreed that the reaction was likely caused by a high concentration of Sodium Hydrosulfite in the super sac resulting from insufficient blending; the material was also improperly stored in the super sac which is porous and would readily allow air and moisture to infiltrate the package. An inspection of downwind and downgradient areas revealed no observable impacts.
On 7/7/2014, JBR Environmental removed the contents of the eight totes by transferring the fluid and sludge to a vacuum truck. The totes were agitated prior to transfer to improve sludge removal. The material was transferred off-site for solidification and subsequent disposal by JBR Environmental.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
6/27/2014
- Greenville City Fire Department Responds for initial entry and firefighting
- Voluntary evacuation implemented during initial response
- JBR Environmental hired by New Life Chemical to complete smothering of reactive materials
- Impacted materials transferred to water baths in eight 275-gallon totes, stored outside under shed
7/7/2014
- JBR removes impacted material and liquid water via vacuum truck and transports for off-site solidification and subsequent disposal
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
New Life Chemical assumed responsibility for cleanup and disposal actions. EPA oversaw response actions alongside South Carolina DHEC responders. DHEC regulators continue to follow up with New Life Chemical on Tier II and RCRA reporting requirements. DHEC has conducted at least one RCRA Hazardous Waste inspection and OSHA has also conducted an independent inspection following the incident.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
| NonHaz Wastewater |
Water + Sludge |
2000 gallons |
|
Solidification |
NonHaz |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.2 Planning Section
|
|
|
|
2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
EPA does not anticipate any further actions at this Site.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
No further response actions are planned.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
DHEC regulators continue to follow up with New Life Chemical on Tier II and RCRA reporting requirements. OSC Huyser continues to receive notifications of regulatory reporting activities by New Life Chemical.
2.2.2 Issues
None.
|
|
|
2.3 Logistics Section
|
|
|
|
No available information for this section.
|
|
|
2.4 Finance Section
|
|
|
|
No information available at this time.
|
|
|
2.5 Other Command Staff
|
|
|
|
2.5.1 Safety Officer
No available information for this section.
2.5.2 Liaison Officer
No available information for this section.
2.5.3 Information Officer
Media interest at the incident was high. Local Greenville news stations arrived on-scene for live reporting during the response.
|
|
3. Participating Entities
|
|
|
3.1 Unified Command
No relevant information for this section. Unified Command was not formally implemented.
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Greenville FD
Greenville PD
Greenville County Sheriff
South Carolina DHEC
|
|
4. Personnel On Site
|
|
|
New Life Chemical (10+)
JBR Environmental (5-8)
EPA (1)
South Carolina DHEC (2)
Greenville FD (n/a)
Greenville PD (n/a)
Greenville County Sheriff (n/a)
|
|
5. Definition of Terms
|
|
|
No information is available for this section.
|
|
6. Additional sources of information
|
|
|
6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
No information is available for this section.
6.2 Reporting Schedule
EPA will not issue further reports on this incident.
|
|
7. Situational Reference Materials
|
|
|
No information is available for this section.
|
