2.1.1 Narrative

A fire erupted at the HOVENSA refinery located in Estate Hope, St. Croix on February 11, 2011. The fire occurred in the western portion of the plant at the No. 4 Distillate De-Sulferizer Unit (4DD) at approximately 1515 hours. Heavy black smoke was initially associated with the fire until the HOVENSA fire brigade could bring the blaze under control. The fire brigade maintained a water curtain and applied fire suppression foam to control the fire until the affected pipelines could be isolated and purged. The fire was extinguished by 1747 hours; the all clear was sounded at 1755 hours. There were no injuries reported by HOVENSA related to the incident. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

EPA responded immediately to the incident with the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the Virgin Islands (VI) Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), the VI Department of Health (VIDOH) and the VI Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA). EPA utilized representatives from the USCG Atlantic Strike Team (AST) to conduct air monitoring within the downwind communities using equipment provided by the USCG Marine Safety Detachment. EPA/AST monitoring was conducted in an effort to augment and confirm air monitoring results obtained by the HOVENSA Rapid Air Monitoring (RAM) team. EPA/AST air monitoring results were non-detect for hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and carbon monoxide (CO) within all community areas monitored.

The HOVENSA RAM team immediately responded to conduct air monitoring along the facility fence line and in the potentially impacted neighborhoods.  The RAM team monitored for particulate matter and deployed an Area RAE suit to monitor for VOCs, H₂S, sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and CO.  Elevated particulate levels as high as 0.44 mg/m3 were reported as attributable to the fire. (Typical background particulate levels range from 0.02-0.04 mg/m3.)  Peak concentrations of 1.2 ppm SO₂   and 0.2 ppm H₂S were recorded at the fence line.  Readings were below instrument detection limits throughout the community, however; it was reported that there was an odor present.

EPA also observed that as the response to the fire progressed, the originally heavy smoke plume diminished significantly. The relatively windy conditions served to dissipate the plume as it traveled in a north westerly direction away from the facility. The smoke plume did not impact the areas previously affected by the DCU release of December 9, 2010.

A Unified Command assessment team consisting of representatives from EPA, DPNR, VITEMA and HOVENSA conducted visual assessments in downwind neighborhoods and businesses as soon as the fire was extinguished.   HOVENSA also deployed members of their RAM teams to conduct assessments. The teams inspected surfaces where soot would be expected to collect and be easily visible (cars, windows, building surfaces, road signs, vegetation, etc.).  Areas assessed included Estate Profit, Profit Hills, New Works, Upper Love, Mt. Pleasant, Matthew Charles and the southern section of Clifton Hill.  No soot or oil residues were noted in these areas.  The inspections were terminated by sunset. 

EPA and DPNR conducted a daylight assessment on February 12, 2010.  HOVENSA also conducted additional daylight assessments.  Areas assessed by EPA and DPNR included repeat visits to some of the neighborhoods inspected on 2/11/2011 and new inspections in Annaly Farms, Enfield Green, the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport and the Diageo Rum Factory.  No visual signs of soot or oil droplets were observed in the neighborhoods.  However, very light, potentially soot residues were observed by EPA/DPNR on signage posted along the Diageo Rum facility fence line. 

EPA and DPNR personnel interviewed several witnesses on 2/12/11 including the VI Police Commissioner.  The Commissioner indicated he was not home at the time of fire and did not wintess the impact to his neighborhood, however; he had not recieved any complaints from the residents of Enfield Green where he lives.  The Executive Director of the VI Port Authority indicated that smoke did not impact the airport, however; employees in the Engineering Building did complain of an odor, with one employee complaining of feeling ill. Employees were sent home. The Security Officer at the St. Croix Renaissance Park, located on the west border of the refinery, reported that the area was impacted with heavy smoke from the fire, causing her to close the park and leave the premises. The remainder of the witnesses from neighborhood areas reported seeing the smoke plume with no significant problems associated.  

HOVENSA rassessment teams reported soot residues on some cars at the Diageo Rum facility.  HOVENSA was in the process of making arrangements to clean the cars at Diageo when Diageo management indicated that a recent rain event made cleaning the cars unnecessary.

HOVENSA received a complaint from one resident on St. George Hill that there was soot on his property. The HOVENSA Liaison Officer investigated and confirmed the presence of residue on a wall at the St. George Hill residence.   The home is high on St. George Hill, which could have increased its vulnerability to impact from the smoke plume.  HOVENSA is making arrangements to clean the residence.
 

Based on the duration of the incident, the results of the impact assessment, air monitoring results and EPA observations of the smoke plume, lasting health effects and impact to cisterns are not expected from this incident.

On 2/14/2011, the EPA OSC determined that no further EPA action was necessary based on the results of the visual assesments and follow-up public outreach conducted by HOVENSA, DPNR and EPA.    

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

The Responsible Party is the HOVENSA L.L.C., 1 Estate Hope, Christiansted, USVI.  EPA is currently conducting compliance investigations at the facility. 

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Visual assessment of the potentially impacted neighborhoods has been completed.  HOVENSA is making arrangements to clean one impacted residential home.