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Santa Ana Hollister (formerly MK Ballistics)

All POL/SITREP's for this site Santa Ana Hollister (formerly MK Ballistics)
Hollister, CA - EPA Region IX
POLREP #4
Santa Ana Hollister Waste Removal 		Printer Friendly  |   PDF
 
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Santa Ana Hollister (formerly MK Ballistics) - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IX
Subject: POLREP #4
Santa Ana Hollister Waste Removal
Santa Ana Hollister (formerly MK Ballistics)

Hollister, CA
Latitude: 36.8497457 Longitude: -121.3179445

To:
From: Margaret Waldon, On Scene Coordinator
Date: 4/15/2016
Reporting Period: 15 April 2016 0800-1700

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: A9AD    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority:      Response Type:  
Response Lead:    Incident Category:
NPL Status:    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:      Start Date:  
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:

Site Description:

On April 11, 2016, EPA Region 9 mobilized emergency response resources to address an abandoned facility with a lapsed Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) permit to store explosives.  The facility is located on approximately two acres of agricultural land in an unincorporated area of Hollister, San Benito County, CA.  The ATF requested EPA assistance in disposing of a significant quantity of explosive material, including benite, smokeless powder, black powder, silver iodide and silver iodate.  There is approximately 15 tons of material stored on site in one conex box and 10 earthen bunkers, as well as flammable, corrosive, and toxic hazardous waste stored in multiple structures on site. 
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
   

Incident Objectives 

  • Ensure the safety of citizens and response personnel
  • Manage a coordinated response effort
  • Inventory and identify all hazardous substances
  • Destroy/render safe waste explosives
  • Keep stakeholders and public informed of response activities
  • Prevent off site migration of hazardous substances
  • Package all hazardous substances for off site disposal
  • Transport all hazardous substances off site for disposal

Additional Incident Objectives

  • Conduct post-removal soil characterization
  • Conduct air surveillance during explosive destruction/render safe

Response Actions to Date:

  • Blasting field cleared, grated, and prepped with 130 1.5 foot trenches used for product demolition*

  • 7 Electric firing lines were assembled by the Monterrey and Santa Clara County Bomb Squad*

  • All stakeholders and public have been informed of response activities*

  • All 26680 lbs of benite has been eradicated as of 14 April at 1400.*

  • 160 lbs of miscellaneous waste (I.e signal flares) has been eradicated.*

  • Stericycle is on scene to inventory, package, and transport hazardous waste. 

  • *prior op period 

   4/11  4/12  4/13  4/14  4/15 Total 
 Benite  N/A  3220 lbs 17920 lbs  5540 lbs    26,680 lbs
 Misc.  N/A  30 lbs  70 lbs   60 lbs 
 160 lbs

 

The following types of hazardous waste has been identified for packaging and transport (U.S. DOT Description):

  • 178 lbs flammable liquid
  • 16 lbs corrosive liquid, basic, inorganic
  • 2 lbs corrosive solid, basic, organic
  • 18 lbs corrosive liquid, acidic, organic
  • 5 lbs corrosive solid, acidic, inorganic 
  • 3 lbs Mercury waste
  • 32 lbs flammable solid, inorganic 
  • 7 lbs self reactive solid 
  • 2 lbs self heating solid, organic
  • 4 lbs oxidizing liquid
  • 85 lbs oxidizing solid
  • 4 lbs water reactive solid, flammable
  • 2 lbs flammable aerosols
  2.2 Planning Section
   

Anticipated Activities

  • Complete the inventory and identify all hazardous substances

  • Continue destroying/rendering safe waste explosive

  • Continue air monitoring/surveillance during waste characterization and packaging

  • Package all hazardous substances for off-site disposal

  • Transport all hazardous substances for off-site disposal

  • Conduct post-removal soil characterization

 
  2.3 Logistics Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    No information available at this time.
3. Participating Entities
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Strike Team, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), Monterrey County Bomb Squad, Santa Clara County Bomb Squad, San Benito Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services.
4. Personnel On Site
 

  • 10 total personnel:

  • 2 EPA - OSC

  • 1 USCG - safety/oversight and documentation 

  • 2 START – Air monitoring/sampling

  • 3 ERRS – Equipment operators, Response Manager (RM)

  • 2 Stericycle 
5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.
6. Additional sources of information
 

Link to news article:

http://m.ksbw.com/news/former-munitions-plant-near-hollister-focus-of-epa-cleanup/38999444

 

http://m.ksbw.com/news/raw-video-big-explosions-near-hollister/39032878
7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.