U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
May 2010 Tennessee Floods - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IV
|
|
Subject:
|
POLREP #4
May 2010 Tennessee Floods
Nashville, TN
Latitude: 36.0991230 Longitude: -86.7587600
|
|
To:
|
|
|
From:
|
Jeffery Crowley, On-Scene Coordinator
|
|
Date:
|
5/8/2010
|
|
Reporting Period:
|
0700 7May2010 through 0700 8May2010
|
|
1. Introduction
|
|
|
1.1 Background
|
|
|
|
|
Site Number: |
|
|
Contract Number: |
|
|
D.O. Number: |
|
|
Action Memo Date: |
|
|
Response Authority: |
Stafford Act |
|
Response Type: |
Emergency |
|
Response Lead: |
FEMA |
|
Incident Category: |
Removal Assessment |
|
NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
|
Operable Unit: |
|
|
Mobilization Date: |
5/3/2010 |
|
Start Date: |
5/3/2010 |
|
Demob Date: |
|
|
Completion Date: |
|
|
CERCLIS ID: |
|
|
RCRIS ID: |
|
|
ERNS No.: |
|
|
State Notification: |
5/2/2010 |
|
FPN#: |
|
|
Reimbursable Account #: |
|
1.1.1 Incident Category
National Disaster - Tennessee Flooding, 27 counties received Presidential Disasater Declaration.
1.1.2 Site Description
EPA has responded to extensive flooding in Central and Western Tennessee caused by heavy rain May 2 and 3, 2010. Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) established an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at the National Guard Armory in Nashville, TN. EPA Emergency Response and Removal Branch (ERRB) mobilized under a request from Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) under ESF-10 to conduct Oil and Hazardous Substance Assessment in the impacted areas.
1.1.2.1 Location
Currently EPA has set up an Incident Management Team (IMT) in Nashville with Operations also in Jackson, TN. The flooding has occurred primarily in Central and Western Tennessee. EPA will assess impacts in these areas.
|
|
2. Current Activities
|
|
|
2.1 Operations Section
|
|
|
|
2
.1.1 Narrative
EPA is coordinating with TEMA, FEMA, and TDEC to assess facilities of concern for contaminant release. Currently EPA Operations are divided into a Western and Central Tennessee Branch. OSCs Garrard and Dixon are conducting assessments in Central Tennessee out of the Nashville EOC and OSCs Gaughan and Byrd are conducting assessments in Western Tennessee based from Jackson.
2.1.2 Response Actions During This OperationalPeriod
Central Tennessee Branch Operations:
The assessment team lead by OSC Dixon met with the City of Clarksville Chief of Staff and the City of Clarksville Risk Manager, to discuss areas of concern in Clarksville in Montgomery County. The team was informed that the Wastewater Treatment Plant was still offline, however all tanks were intact.There were no major oil or chemical businesses in the area. The team assessed flood damage along North Riverside Drive at various facilities, including an auto repair shop, collision repair shop, a paint store and various gasoline stations, which were observed being cleaned up by facility owners.
In Ashland City in Cheatham County, the team met with the Cheatham County EMA Director to discuss areas of concern. At Gibbs Lumber Company a diesel release was observed. Three ASTs, each less than 500 gallon capacity, were also observed at the property. A water heater manufacturer, AO Smith, had large propane tanks floating slightly, but tanks were secured and stabilized. No other major oil or chemical businesses were located in the area.
The assessment team lead by OSC Garrard completed recon in Davidson, Williams, Hickman and Perry Counties. Facilities deemed with an ongoing assessment in Davidson County from earlier recon were re-assessed for further release of contamination and cleanup status. Two new facilities: Green Tree Processing Plant and Breeko Block Sales were assessed. At Breeko, an AST was observed on its side and located outside of the containment area though no release was observed.
Western Tennessee Branch Operations:
OSCs Byrd and Gaughan spent this operational period mobilizing to Jackson after receiving an operations briefing in Nashvilleat the EOC. They also made contact with several EMA directors in counties in Western Tennessee. Further assements will continued during the next reporting period.
A database for facilities assessed and their status can be in the documents section of this website.
EOC:
EPA IC Crowley participated in an initial Debris Management Meeting with FEMA, TEMA, USACE, and TDEC to begin discussing the debris issues associated with large scale flooding. It was decided during the meeting to form a Debris Management Task Force, led by TDOT, who will develop a Debris Management Plan to use for this cleanup effort.
EPA also participated in a conference call with TDEC and SESD to begin discussing any assistance that EPA will lend in drinking water well assessments under ESF-3
In addition, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has agreed to lend two boats and operators to EPA for river assessment activities to begin on May 8, 2010.
|
|
|
2.2 Planning Section
|
|
|
|
2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Central Tennessee Branch:
Both Teams, utilizing the two TWRA boats, will conduct oil and hazardous material assessment along the Cumberland River between the Cheatham and Old Hickory Dams on 5/8/2010. The teams will divide the river into two halves and work both banks. Of particular interest is the Cheatham Lake area due to the fact that it is the repository for the Cumberland River after it leaves Nashville.
Western Tennessee Branch:
This will be the first full day of assessment for this Branch. The plan is for the teams to divided up the declared counties in Western Tennessee and follow creeks and rivers looking for any potential oil and hazardous materials.
|
|
|
2.3 Logistics Section
|
|
|
|
The Logistics Team within the REOC will continue to support all field teams during their reconnaissance activities as information becomes available.
|
|
|
2.4 Finance Section
|
|
|
|
No information available at this time.
|
|
|
2.5 Other Command Staff
|
|
|
|
2.5.1 Safety Officer
2.6 Liaison Officer
2.7 Information Officer
EPA IC contacted the TEMA Public Information Office today to offer PIO assistance from EPA but was informed that it was not needed at this time.
|
|
3. Participating Entities
|
|
|
3.1 Unified Command
TEMA is acting as the lead agency on this response and EPA is assisting TDEC in response actions. Currently the IC for EPA is OSC Crowley.
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is supporting the assessment effort along inpacted rivers.
TDEC contacted EPA Air, Pesticides, and Toxics Management Division (APTMD) to request input and clarification regarding the use of air curtain incinerators for the disposal of the biomass debris that was created by the recent floods in Tennessee. APTMD held a conference call with TDEC to address their questions. The main topic covered in the call included, air curtain incineration, regulations that cover asbestos, household pesticide containers and general regulatory topics pertaining to the flood.
|
|
4. Personnel On Site
|
|
|
Central Tennessee Branch
2 EPA, 2 START
Western Tennessee Branch
2 EPA, 2 START
EOC
1 EPA, 1 START
|
|
5. Definition of Terms
|
|
|
No information available at this time.
|
|
6. Additional sources of information
|
|
|
6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
EPA will post other information published on this incident inder the documents tab of the wedsite www.epaosc.org/2010TNFloods.
6.2 Reporting Schedule
EPA plans to publisha POLREP/SITREP for the incident on a daily basis.
|
|
7. Situational Reference Materials
|
|
|
No information available at this time.
|
|
|
