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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
A263 |
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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: |
PRP |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Assessment |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
12/10/2010 |
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Start Date: |
12/9/2010 |
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Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
VID980536080 |
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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
Emergency Response
1.1.2 Site Description
Release of vaporized coker intermediate to the atmosphere. Fallout from the release impacted cars, structural surfaces and potentially residential cisterns.
1.1.2.1 Location
1 Estate Hope
Christiansted, St Croix, US Virgin Islands
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Coker residue precipitate impacting residential cisterns.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Approximately 150 homes, one school, one daycare and several businesses affected by the release.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
On December 10, 2010 the EPA OSC responded to the site and met with the HOVENSA Incident Commander (IC) to receive an update on the release.
EPA contacted the Director and the Assistant Commisioner of the USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) to inform them of our presence on the island and to determine whether assistance was needed.
EPA contacted the Director of the USVI Department of Health (DOH) to inform them of our presence on the island and to ensure that they were in contact with our representatives from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to assist them in the health assessment. DOH informed EPA that they would be issuing a press release advising residents to not use their cisterns until further notified.
On December 12, 2010 EPA met with HOVENSA personnel to get an update on the response.
EPA OSC Bechtel met with OSC Donofrio to provide him with an update on the situation and an oriention to the impact zone, surrounding areas, personnel from the responding organizations and key current issues. The EPA RST contractor was mobilized to the site to assist in technical oversight and conduct cistern sampling as needed.
HOVENSA conducted the following activities:
- roof and cistern cleaning at the Central High School;
- further assessment of the impact zone;
- disconnection of potentially impacted cisterns; and
- continuation of public outreach.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The potentially responsible party (PRP) is HOVENSA.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
The latest reports from the hospital indicate that forty six patients were treated on 12/9/10 and thirty six patients (some were return patients) were treated on 12/10/10 at the hospital emergency room related to this incident.
Five Contamination Prevention teams of three (two TMI employees and one Hovensa) worked in impacted neighborhoods to disconnect down spouts and communicate response efforts. Contact was made with more than 161 residents; 81 down spouts were disconnected by the Teams. Some residents did not request disconnection of the cisterns for various reasons including:
- no cistern on the property,
- no coker residues observed by the resident,
- the cisterns are not used for drinking,
- the resident(s) is (are) angry at Hovensa,
- no one home at the time of contact.
The roofs were cleaned at Central High School. Air conditioner filter inspection is scheduled for tomorrow.
The Estate Blessing playground was cleaned.
Water distribution was established at the Animal Shelter and the Original Pentecostal Church. The DPNR completed inspection of the distribution centers. 379 gallons of water were distributed to date.
29 total calls from concerned residernts were received at the call center.
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
EPA was concerned about the successive releases from this facility.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
EPA has integrated into and will participate in Unified Command for this response. EPA will also:
- provide oversight of PRP assessment and cleanup activities, and
- collect split samples of cisterns with HOVENSA.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
The Hovensa sampling plan is currently being finalized. EPA will review the final draft as soon as it is available. Initial sampling efforts will begin during the next operational period prior to finalization of the plan in order to avoid delay in progress of the response effort.
The impact zone has been divided into areas. HOVENSA is currently proposing representative sampling by area. As part of the proposal, a representative number of homes with visual impact on roofs/structures within each area will be sampled. Positive analytical results from representative homes will trigger cistern cleaning for all homes within the area represented. This approach is currently under review by EPA.
2.2.2 Issues
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2.3 Logistics Section
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N/A
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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
All operations will conform to the following regulations:
Title 29, Part 1910 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Occupational Safety and Health Standards (with special attention to Section 120, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response)
Title 29, Part 1926 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Safety and Health Regulations for Construction
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health / OSHA / USCG / EPA Occupational Safety and Health Guidance Manual for Hazardous Waste Site Activities
2.6 Liaison Officer
N/A
2.7 Information Officer
2.7.1 Public Information Officer
The EPA Public Affairs Division PAD is being regularly updated on response oversight efforts.
2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
N/A
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
HOVENSA
VI DPNR
VI TEMA
VI DOH
US EPA
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
N/A
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4. Personnel On Site
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EPA OSCs 2
HOVENSA varied
VI DPNR 1
VI DOH 1
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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
US Coast Guard - National Pollution Fund Center
http://www.uscg.mil/npfc/default.asp
US Environmental Protection Agency - Region 2
http://www.epa.gov/Region2/
6.2 Reporting Schedule
Weekly
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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N/A
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