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Typhoon Soudelor

All POL/SITREP's for this site Typhoon Soudelor
Saipan, MP - EPA Region IX
SITREP #24
Progress
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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Typhoon Soudelor - Polrep/Sitrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IX

Subject: SITREP #24
Progress
Typhoon Soudelor

Saipan, MP
Latitude: 15.1778010 Longitude: 145.7509670


To:
Thru: Dan Meer, Regional Incident Coordinator
From: Lance Richman, Planning Section Chief
Date: 9/11/2015
Reporting Period: 9/5/2015 - 9/11/2015

Executive Summary
 

EPA is working under 5 Mission Assignments from FEMA to date:  
1) For activation and coordination ($285,000);
2) Subject matter experts (SMEs) for water ($210,000);
3) SME for debris management and household hazardous waste (HHW) planning ($104,000); and
4) Direct Federal Assistance to collect, stage and dispose of downed and damaged transformers ($1,000,000). 
5) DFA to collect, stage and dispose of household hazardous waste (HHW) ($1,400,000). 

This report provides updates covering the operational period 9/4/15 pm through mid-afternoon 9/11/15 (ChST)

Unless specified otherwise all dates & times are in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).

The SITREP will be created weekly, on Friday.


1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: NA    Contract Number: NA
D.O. Number: NA    Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: Stafford Act    Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead: FEMA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status:    Operable Unit: NA
Mobilization Date: 8/3/2015    Start Date:  
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID: NA    RCRIS ID: NA
ERNS No.: NA    State Notification: NA



1.1.1 Incident Category

Stafford Act


1.1.2 Site Description

See initial (8/4/15) SitRep

1.1.2.1 Location

Saipan, CNMI


1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

See initial (8/4/15) SitRep


1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

  1.2 Incident Objectives
    Field Objectives:
1. Ensure the health and safety of responders
2. Minimize risk to the public and public health from typhoon impacts
3. Address environmental impacts of typhoon on CNMI

EOC Objectives:
1. Ensure the health and safety of responders.
2. Support the EPA response to Typhoon Soudelor.
3. Provide information related to the response to EPA Region 9 and other stakeholders.
4. Coordinate with FEMA on Mission Assignments, funding, logistical and other issues.
5. Address regulatory or technical issues related to environmental concerns.

  1.3 Critical Resource Needs
    None at the present time.


  1.4 Strategic Considerations
    CUC anticipates that full power will not be back online for 2-3 months. 

EPA provides critical water, wastewater and debris management expertise in addition to responding to HAZMAT issues.


2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
   

2.1.1 Narrative

2.1.2 Response Actions this Reporting Period

2.1.2.a - SMEs for Support of Water Functionality Task Force

CUC Water Distribution:

·         89 wells operable, producing 6.7 MGD [65% of capacity]

·         Isley Field well 211, Kagman wells 13, 14, 16, 19, Koblerville well 20 and Sablan Quarry wells 5, 11,     13 now on line

·         Intermittent water distribution available to >95% of population.

·         Fifteen water tanks chlorinated, one tank not chlorinated

·         CUC doing weekly public announcements about boiling and disinfecting their water

Water Testing:

·         No DW samples taken today

·         DEQ and CUC labs in service. 

·         CUC lab processing WW samples

Emergency Water Distribution:

·         Coral Ocean Point Resort operating potable water distribution point

·         Lau Lau Bay Golf Resort operating potable water distribution point

·         Aqua Resort operating potable water distribution point.

 

Bottled water: 

·         9 companies operational, producing 75,000 gallons of potable water/day

·         5 companies not operational

Mass Care:

·         One shelter open at Aging Center

Schools:

·         DEQ continuing to inspect and provide instruction on proper disinfection of school water tanks and systems at 15 schools.

·         DEQ advisory to only use water for toilet flushing, use hand sanitizers

Wastewater:

·         All lift stations operating.  

·         Both WWTPs operational full time on island power

 
2.1.2.b - SME for Debris Management

Norwood Scott continues to work on drafting a comprehensive debris management plan for FEMA.  The management of treated power poles is one of the items that will be covered in the debris plan and assistance is being provided from the Land Division on this matter. 

 

The R9 Air Permitting Office provided a memo clarifying the regulations around post-disaster air curtain incinerators.  Air permits are not required for the first 8 weeks.  If proper notifications are made, incineration without a permit is allowed for another 8 weeks.  After 16 weeks, incinerators must comply with all air regulations.

2.1.2.c - Transformer Task Force Update:

Retrieval team:

Completing Feeder 7 area today and beginning retrieval in Feeder 4 area. 20 transformers collected between 1400 9/10 and 1400 9/11 for total of 531 at TSA. 

 

Assessment team:

Transformer assessments have been completed. 

2.1.2.d - Household Hazardous Waste (HHW): 

EPA has establish a temporary HHW staging area at Lower Base Transfer Station.  There was post Soudelor HHW that was overflowing the HHW storage area at the transfer station.  EPA has relocated the post-Soudelor HHW into the newly established HHW containment area.  

EPA created press materials and provided public service announcements for today and tomorrow's HHW collection efforts. 

EPA will be collecting white goods as well as HHW.

Collection by EPA of HHW began today (9/11/2015) at the Lower Base Transfer Station. 

 

 

 

 

 

  2.2 Planning Section
   

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

The EPA R9EOC will be supporting field activities with a decreased number of staff because the amount of support needed is diminished. 


2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

2.2.1.1.a - Water Functionality Task Force

All Water Functionality Task Force work is completed.  Work may resume when the power is back on in 2 to 3 months and the full water distribution system is reactivated.

2.2.1.1.b - Debris removal planning support

Continue to provide support to FEMA, USACOE, and local agencies on debris collection and disposal.  This includes providing guidance on the use of air curtain incinerators beyond 16 weeks, the reuse of treated wood power poles and the creation of a debris management plan.

2.2.1.1.c -  Downed Transformers

Continue collection of damaged transformers.

2.2.1.1.d - HHW

Implement the planned HHW events for September where people can drop off their HHW at an established HHW collection area.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

See above

2.2.2 Issues


  2.3 Logistics Section
    Not activated

  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.

  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer

None assigned

2.5.2 Liaison Officer

Lance Richman is available to provide additional support to the ESF-10 desk on Saipan.


2.5.3 Information Officer

Dean Higuchi in EPA's Honolulu office is assigned as PIO.

3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command

NA

3.2 Cooperating Agencies

CNMI Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality (BECQ)

CNMI Commonwealth Utilities Commission (CUC)

CNMI Dept. of Public Works (DPW)

USCG

FEMA

4. Personnel On Site
 
Name Position Email Telephone
Chris Reiner OSC reiner.chris@epa.gov 415-971-6911 (c)
Marty Powell OSC
Powell.Martin@epa.gov
Jason Musante OSC musante.jason@epa.gov 213-479-2120 (c)
Norwood Scott Debris SME scott.norwood@epa.gov 670-483-4825 (c)


Also:  USCG PST, ERRS and START


5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.

6. Additional sources of information
  No information available at this time.

7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.