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Agrium US Fertilizer Fire

All POL/SITREP's for this site Agrium US Fertilizer Fire
Hartsville, SC - EPA Region IV
POLREP #1
Initial POLREP 		Printer Friendly  |   PDF
 
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Agrium US Fertilizer Fire - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IV
Subject: POLREP #1
Initial POLREP
Agrium US Fertilizer Fire
B4F7
Hartsville, SC
Latitude: 34.3885836 Longitude: -80.0749263

To:
From: Matthew Huyser, Telephone Duty Officer (OSC)
Date: 2/16/2011
Reporting Period: 2/14/2011 to 2/16/2011

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: B4F7    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead: PRP    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 2/14/2011    Start Date: 2/14/2011
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:


1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency

1.1.2 Site Description
The Agrium Inc. facility that was impacted is a fertilizer repackaging and manufacturing facility in Hartsville, SC.  The building is approximately 0.5 acres in size.

1.1.2.1 Location
201 Society Avenue, Hartsville, Darlington County, South Carolina

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The facility contains several thousand tons of fertilizer product and raw materials.  It is located less than 30 yards from Prestwood Lake which serves as a reservoir and urban recreational lake.  Runoff from firefighting water is carrying fertilizer products and raw materials into the lake.  The plume from the fire is entering the surrounding community, which is densely populated with a mix of industrial, commercial, and residential properties.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
EPA Telephone Duty initially contacted the facility who reported that the stormwater drains were initially not covered. As firefighting efforts and mechanical segregation of materials occurred throughout the day from the building and surrounding area more drains were identified that had not been covered.  US EPA was initially requested to conduct water sampling of fire suppression runoff into Prestwood Lake and later was asked to conduct air monitoring/sampling by SC DHEC.  
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative
SC DHEC began air monitoring after arriving on site.  Air monitoring consisted of five AreaRAEs and MultiRAEs.  AreaRAEs were equipped with chlorine, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, oxygen, volatiles, and LEL sensors.  After discussions between EPA and SC DHEC, EPA was asked to conduct water sampling of runoff into Prestwood Lake.  Due to continued emissions from the fire, EPA was requested to supplement SC DHEC air monitoring and sampling efforts. 

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

On 2/14/2011 EPA mobilized to the site and mobilized START assets at approximately 2200. 

On 2/15/2011 EPA and START arrived on site at approximately 0100 and integrated with local responders, SC DHEC and the PRP.  START collected MSDSs, process, inventory and site data from the PRP and developed water sampling locations that consisted of 10 locations representative of the impact to lake Prestwood.  EPA and START teams divided into air and water sampling teams.  At 1130 sampling equipment arrived on site and water sampling operations began at 1200.  Ten water samples were collected and will be analyzed for pH, DO, BOD, COD, RCRA metals and zinc, and NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium).  Air samples were collected and will be analyzed for RCRA metals plus zinc and asbestos.  One asbestos and metal air sample were collected within the plum on the fire site and additional samples were collected downwind within the community.  SC DHEC began air monitoring after arriving on site.  Air monitoring consisted of five AreaRAEs and MultiRAEs.  AreaRAEs were equipped with chlorine, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, oxygen, volatiles, and LEL sensors.  SC DHEC air monitoring did not detect any levels of concern.  During boat operations for water sampling there was a visible impact to the lake but no observations were made of impacted wildlife.

On 02/16/2011 SC DHEC will continue air monitoring operations and conduct water sampling.  EPA is collecting sediment samples in shallow waters in the area of the fire site and upstream at the request of the DOI.  EPA is conducting water quality monitoring which includes Dissolved Oxygen, pH, turbidity and conductivity. EPA will collect an additional asbestos air sample along with additional metal air samples which will be analyzed for metals (speciating hexavalent and trivalent chrome). EPA and SC DHEC are coordinating with PRP, Agrium US Inc, to allow them to split samples.

 
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The PRP filed the initial NRC Report but it is unclear as to the magnitude of response that they are able to provide to firefighting measures.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics
Smoke emissions from the fire site have continually improved.
  2.2 Planning Section
   

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
EPA will continue to coordinate support activities with state and local responders

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
See section 2.2.1

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Firefighting efforts continue by using mechanical process of separation and segregation to minimize water use.
Fire suppression water will continue to be managed and contained to the extent possible on site.
EPA will continue to coordinate with state and local responders to meet their needs regarding air and water monitoring/sampling.

2.2.2 Issues
2/15/2011 A total of 120,000 gallons of fire suppression water has been collected in Frac-Tanks.
2/16/2011 Due to expected wind shifts, local responders restricted elementary schools downwind to indoor activities up to 12:30 pm.
2/16/2011 EPA RCRA personnel are expected to arrive around 1:00 pm.
2/16/2011 SC Governor is expected to arrive at approximately 1:00 pm to tour site.
  2.3 Logistics Section
    N/A

  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer
N/A

2.6 Liaison Officer
N/A

2.7 Information Officer
No evacuation was in place but a shelter had been established and approximately 30 residents had voluntarily evacuated to the shelter.

2.7.1 Public Information Officer
There has been media coverage of the incident. OSC Rhame notified EPA Region 4 Public Affairs, a SC DHEC PIO has been on site for media coordination.

2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
N/A
3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command
N/A

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Agrium Inc. (PRP) / Hepaco / Davis & Brown
Darlington County EMA
Hartsville FD (Multiple Fire Depts. from Mutual Aid)
SCDHEC
SC OSHA
EPA
ATF
4. Personnel On Site
  N/A

5. Definition of Terms
  N/A

6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
N/A

6.2 Reporting Schedule
N/A

7. Situational Reference Materials
  N/A