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Typhoon Soudelor

All POL/SITREP's for this site Typhoon Soudelor
Saipan, MP - EPA Region IX
SITREP #25
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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 #25
Typhoon Soudelor

Saipan, MP
Latitude: 15.1778010 Longitude: 145.7509670


To:
Thru: Dan Meer, Regional Incident Coordinator
From: Lance Richman, Planning Section Chief
Date: 9/18/2015
Reporting Period: September 11 through18, 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 9/11/15 pm through mid-afternoon 9/18/15 (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:

  • 95 wells operable, producing 9.6 MGD [72% of capacity]

  • Isley Field wells 12, 25, 205 in service; Obyan well 20 out of service

  • Intermittent water distribution available to >99% of population.

  • Fifteen water tanks chlorinated, one tank not chlorinated

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

Water Testing:

  • DEQ and CUC labs in service. 

  • No drinking water samples taken

  • CUC lab processing WW and non-potable DW samples

Emergency Water Distribution:

  • Coral Ocean Point Resort, Lau Lau Bay Golf Resort, Aqua Resort operating potable water distribution points. 

Bottled water: 

  • 13 companies operational

  • One company not operational

Mass Care:

  • One shelter open at Aging Center

Schools:

  • DEQ continues 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 has completed 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 Guam EPA Land Division on this matter. 

 

 

2.1.2.c - Transformer Task Force Update:

Retrieval team:

Retrieval team:
Large boom truck replacement available 09/18 AM.  09/17 the total number of transformers at the Transformer Storage Area (TSA) is 583. 

Sampling Team:
52 additional transformers sampled at the TSA on 09/17 PM, for a total of 211 sampled. 14 additional found to be empty for a total of 58 empty. 

Household Hazardous Waste and White Goods

HHW collection area at the Lower Base transfer station for Typhoon Soudelor wastes continues operating 0730-1600 daily, Monday-Saturday.  

Collection area for white goods and HHW at Kobler Air Field in operation on 09/18 and 09/19 from 0900-1700, and will continue on Fridays and Saturdays through September.

 

 

 


  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.  Debris SME will demobilize on September 18.

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
     
       


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.