U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Pike County Flood - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IV
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Subject:
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POLREP #3
Begin Recovery Operations
Pike County Flood
Pikeville, KY
Latitude: 37.4792672 Longitude: -82.5187629
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To:
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From:
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Matthew Huyser, On-Scene Coordinator
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Date:
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7/22/2010
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Reporting Period:
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0700 7/22/2010 to 1800 7/22/2010
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
B4A9 |
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Contract Number: |
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D.O. Number: |
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Action Memo Date: |
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Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Emergency |
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Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
7/19/2010 |
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Start Date: |
7/20/2010 |
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Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
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FPN#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
Disaster Response
1.1.2 Site Description
On 7/17/2010, a heavy rainstorm caused localized flash flooding in Pike County, Kentucky, five miles east of Pikeville, Kentucky. Four fatalities were linked to the floods. By 7/20/2010 the Red Cross estimated that 79 homes had been completely destroyed, 86 received major damage, and 44 had received minor damage. By 7/18/2010 the local and state agencies began disaster recovery operations, and by 7/19/2010 federal agencies arrived for disaster assessment and recovery. On 7/19/2010, KYDEP requested EPA assistance in addressing various hazardous materials containers that had been spotted in debris piles along the washout corridor(s).
1.1.2.1 Location
The flooding encompasses several localities east of Pikeville within Pike County, Kentucky: Meta, Bent Branch, Zebulon, Raccoon, Justiceville, Millard, and Manowbone.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The flood has washed away several hazardous materials containers and oil containers from residences and small commercial facilities. Materials within these containers present a threat of release or exposure to residents/responders if they are mishandled with other debris or if they are left unattended.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Containers that have been spotted by KYDEP and EPA assessment teams include: oil storage tanks (5-1000 gallon capacity), drums, totes, saddle tanks, and compressed gas cylinders. Also, several large propane tanks have been spotted and may present a fire or explosion hazard if they contain product under pressure.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
KYDEP requested EPA assistance on 7/19/2010; TEL dispatched R1 OSC Huyser, who arrived with START on 7/20/2010 and ERRS crews who arrived on 7/21/2010. START and KYDEP assessment teams collected data on hazmat containers using the DRAG with the Trimble GeoXT. ERRS crews collected items that had been identified and tagged, then transported them to a staging area for processing.
Pike County Solid Waste Management has allocated a space for the staging area behind the county recycling center. Copies of the ESF 10 Operational Period Plan are being provided to the County EOC each day. By 7/21/2010 the NRCS, FEMA, Pike County Solid Waste Management, and Pike County Road Department were all been informed of KYDEP and EPA’s activities and had notified their field personnel to report any hazardous material issues or orphaned containers; however, as of 7/22/2010, no new reports of containers have been submitted.
On 7/22/2010, FEMA announced that the event had reached the threshold for a federal disaster declaration. KYDEP had submitted a mission assignment request for federal technical assistance and direct federal assistance through the KY State EOC on 7/20/2010. The status of this mission assignment request will be monitored by EPA R4 to the RRCC and by KYDEP to the KY State EOC.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
After compiling assessment information from 7/19/2010 through 7/20/2010, START produced several maps that of recoverable items that segmented them by neighborhood and organized them into manageable areas. Areas were assigned to recovery teams during the operational period on 7/21/2010 with maps of item IDs that corresponded to a spreadsheet of all tagged items.
Assessment teams Alpha and Bravo demobilized on 7/21/2010, and assessment team Charlie accompanied recovery team Delta during recovery operations. Recovery teams Delta and Echo were equipped with pickup trucks, and 4WD mules with trailers, and then tasked with removing small containers that had been identified and tagged; recovery team Foxtrot was equipped with a skid-steer, gooseneck trailer, and front-end loader, then tasked with removing large or heavy containers. Team Delta was assigned to Harless Creek, Raccoon Area 4, Burning Fork Area 1, and Johns Creek. Team Echo was assigned to Raccoon Area 1, Raccoon Area 2, and Raccoon Area 3. Team Foxtrot was assigned to a large 2000 gallon steel tank in Raccoon Creek and a large 1,000 lb propane tank in Harless Creek.
Recovery teams collected and removed several dozen more containers and drums than had been previously identified by assessment teams. Few items that had been tagged were not found, and few others were determined to be non-threats. Several more large tanks were identified in a heavily wooded area that was inaccessible with the present equipment on-site and several previously identified drums also inaccessible. A track hoe will be mobilized to the site ready for operations by midday on 7/23/2010 to recover those items.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
Owner permission is being sought before treading on private property. When available, commercial property owners are being encouraged to provide information on hazardous materials that may have been washed away from their facilities. Owners of containers will be sought prior to removing the container.
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
A majority of the recovery along the most heavily impacted areas (Raccoon Creek and Harless Creek) has been completed. Crews will continue assessments in downstream areas along John’s Creek to determine whether containers had been washed down into unexplored sections that are not visible from the roadside. A track hoe is being mobilized to address large and/or heavy containers that are difficult to access. The majority of recovery activities may be completed by midday 7/24/2010 and might demobilize, but some resources may remain through the weekend to provide recovery assets in the event that reports are received from the local government agencies or the public.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
- Assessments of hazardous material threats in the community; (COMPLETE)
- Coordinate response efforts with participating local/state/federal agencies; (ONGOING)
- Removal of hazardous materials; (ONGOING)
- Disposal, treatment, and/or recycling of hazardous materials and/or containers;
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
- Continue and complete recovery operations.
- Begin segregation and consolidation of recovered materials in the staging area in preparation for disposal.
2.2.2 Issues
OSC availability for oversight will be an issue beginning on 7/27/2010. Personnel are being identified who can provide oversight of disposal operations for the remainder of the response.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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A track hoe is being mobilized to the site on 7/23/2010 to provide capability to access containers in difficult terrain.
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2.4 Finance Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.5 Other Command Staff
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2.5.1 Safety Officer
N/A
2.6 Liaison Officer
By 7/21/2010 the NRCS, FEMA, Pike County Solid Waste Management, and Pike County Road Department were all been informed of KYDEP and EPA’s activities and had notified their field personnel to report any hazardous material issues or orphaned containers.
2.7 Information Officer
2.7.1 Public Information Officer
N/A
2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
N/A
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
N/A
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
KYDEPEPA Pike County
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4. Personnel On Site
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KYDEP (1) EPA (2) - OSC Huyser will demobilize on 7/23/2010 START (2) ERRS (8)
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5. Definition of Terms
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N/A
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6. Additional sources of information
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
N/A
6.2 Reporting Schedule
N/A
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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An ESF 10 Operational Period Plan has been posted for 7/23/2010
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