1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency Response and Time Critical Removal.

1.1.2 Site Description

1.1.2.1 Location
The site is located on a residentially-zoned property in the northern portion of the City of Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington.  The site is one of few developed properties located along McMurray Road NE in a wooded ravine sitting just upslope and approximately 300 yards from a more commercial/industrial waterfront area on the east side of Commencement Bay (Puget Sound).  There is a creek that flows westward through the property terminating in the Puget Sound.  There is a City of Tacoma Police Department firing range to the south of the subject property with a more substantial residential neighborhood sitting at the top of McMurray Road.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The residence is currently abandoned, unsecure, and has been a recent target of burglary and vandalism. The former resident left behind four buildings containing large numbers of containers of chemicals, many of which are marked with factory labels or other markings indicating they are hazardous substances as defined by CERCLA.  From an initial assessment, chemicals in each of the following categories were identified in the first building inspected: flammable liquids, oxidizing substances, toxic substances, corrosive materials, and other miscellaneous hazardous materials.  It was observed that some chemicals had already been released through spills or container failure and that the improper storage and condition of other chemicals posed a high risk of future releases.  Of the chemicals that could be observed directly, many were stored in deteriorating containers, stored next to incompatible chemicals (i.e. substances that will react when coming in contact with one another), stored in dilapidated and insecure buildings, and/or were improperly labeled.  Many more chemicals appeared to be in containers of various types either on the floor or mixed together in piles of miscellaneous solid waste on the ground.  All these conditions in combination with a precarious security situation and the proximity to other residences, businesses and a tributary to the Puget Sound created the need for immediate action.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

An initial assessment found releases of chemicals to the environment from improperly managed containers with numerous other containers left behind in varying conditions.  Although an exhaustive survey of chemicals was not possible during the initial assessment numerous CERCLA hazardous substances were observed to be present including:

• Potassium Hydroxide

• Paradichloro Benzene 

• Ferrous Sulfate 

• P-dichlorobenzene 

• Sodium Fluoride 

• Ferric Sulfate 

• Cupric Sulfate 

• Potassium Chromate 

• Phenolphthalein 

• Zinc Nitrate

• Nitric Acid

• Antimony Trichloride 

2.1.1 Narrative

On January 21, 2016, EPA and it's emergency response contractors mobilized to the site and began establishing a site safety plan and operation approach to stabilizing the site and preparing chemicals for safe transport and disposal.  The site was divided into four main buildings.  Each building was screened for potential safety hazards before work began. Building number three was identified as an appropriate sorting area and the team began setting up necessary equipment.  The morning of January 22 EPA contractors began the process of carefully gathering abandoned containers from building number two and sorting them into hazard categories to be overpacked into drums for safe transport and disposal.  Unknown chemicals are set aside for hazard categorization conducted on site by EPA START contractors. 

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

Site safety preparations, sorting and characterization of abandoned chemical containers, overpacking of containers into drums, hazard categorization of unknown chemicals.

• All chemical containers have been removed from the 4 buildings and over packed into DOT shippable containers for transport and disposal off site. 
• Total of 509 unknown chemicals were categorized by field chemists. 
• Total of 9,513 chemical containers into 200 over packs were shipped off-site for disposal. 
• All materials were removed from the site by close of business 1/29/2016. 
• All personal property has been returned to its original location, and all buildings have been secured in the same manner in which they were prior to EPA arrival on site. 
  

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

The former resident and owner of the chemicals is deceased.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Final container and over pack counts:  

Final Hazard Categorization Totals:

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

No further action by EPA.  The site has been referred to Washington Department of Ecology for further evaluation.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

2.2.2 Issues

2.5.1 Safety Officer
Eric Nuchims - START

2.5.2 Liaison Officer

2.5.3 Information Officer

Suzanne Skadowski - EPA Region 10

3.1 Unified Command

3.2 Cooperating Agencies

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives

Washington Department of Ecology

Tacoma Police Department

Pierce County Sherriff's Department

EPA OSC - 1

START - 6

ERRS - 11