Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Hoss/Moore Tank Site
Statesville, NC - EPA Region IV
POLREP #2
Final

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Hoss/Moore Tank Site - Removal Polrep
Final Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IV

Subject:

POLREP #2
Final
Hoss/Moore Tank Site

Statesville, NC
Latitude: 35.9663840 Longitude: -80.9346149

To:

From:

Kenneth Rhame, OSC

Date:

3/15/2011

Reporting Period:

03/05/2011 to 03/10/2011

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:	B4G1	Contract Number:
D.O. Number:		Action Memo Date:
Response Authority:	CERCLA	Response Type:	Emergency
Response Lead:	EPA	Incident Category:	Removal Action
NPL Status:	Non NPL	Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:	3/4/2011	Start Date:	3/4/2011
Demob Date:	3/15/2011	Completion Date:	3/15/2011
CERCLIS ID:		RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:
FPN#:		Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category
CERCLA Emergency Response

1.1.2 Site Description
120 Estes Road
Statesville, Iredell County, NC
Site is currently being utilized as a residental and horse pasture owned by Shirley Moore. It is a former scrap yard that has buried solid waste and compressed gas cylinders containing ethylene oxide. The property is located at the end of Estes Road and is located in a residential neighborhood. A creek flows adjacent to the property.

1.1.2.1 Location
120 Estes Road, Statesville, Iredell County, NC.
Residential Neighborhood

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Explosion/Release of Ethylene Oxide
A Carcinigen

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
On Monday 03/07/2011 EPA formed an incident response team with local authorities, ERRs, and START contractors who conducted site recon identifying 4 cylinders believed to be intact. Information from RP suggests additional cylinders of ethylene oxide are buried on property.

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative
On 03082011 members of the Winston-Salem Police Department Bomb Squad detonated 5 cylinders in holes dug in close proximity where they were discovered; 4 of ethylene oxide, and one suspected to contain nitrous oxide. Air monitoring was conducted prior to, during, and after the detonation and Tedlar bag samples were taken down-wind on the edge of the exclusion (Hot zone) to ensure that no significant exposure was present. CAMEO models were also prepared to assist in anticipating potential down-wind hazards from both the exposure and heat. The models were also run real-time with meteorological data obtained by a mobile weather station. The exclusion zone was established based on information from CAMEO modeling. In addition to the Bomb Squad, representatives from NC DENR RCRA, Central Fire Dept. Fire Chief, USCG GST, a security contractor, Environmental Restoration (ER), and Tetra Tech START were present supporting the response.

After the site was secured from the detonation, efforts focused on ensuring that no flammable levels of ethylene oxide remained in the holes.  Air monitoring did not identify any measurable ethylene oxide outside the exclusion zone but did identify some residual gas in several of the holes used to detonate the cylinders. A Tedlar bag air sample was taken from one hole.

On 03092011 ER trackhoe operator identifies 8 additional cylinders, 4 of which appeared to contain ethylene oxide.  Preliminary air sampling information positively identfies the material as ethylene oxide gas in one of the first the detonation holes and no exposures outside the exclusion zone. Winston-Salem Police Bomb Squad resturns and detonates the 4 cylinders in one hole. Air monitoring conducted prior to, during, and after did not identify any potential for exposures outside the exclusion zone but again did identify residual gas in the hole where the detonation occurred. The residual gas was allowed to dissipate over night.

On 03102011 air monitoring was conducted of the area and no residual ethylene oxide gas was identified outside or within the exclusion zone. All trenches and holes were filled in and the site released to the property owner.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
EPA has secured site, identified and explosively vented 8 ethylene oxide cylinders, conducted air monitoring and sampling, decontaminated the tank fragments, dug several extensive exploritory trenches in an effort to identify additional burried cylinders and filled in the trenches once it did not apprear any further cylinders were present. Additional cylinders are reported to be present, possibly buried, at two other properties in the Statesville area.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
PRP is Dave Moore (deceased).
Property Owner is Shirley Moore.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Investigating reports of additional sites where ethylene oxide cylinders may be burried. Working to identify additional response alternatives.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
None

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
SESD will conduct a sub-surface investigation at another property that reportedly has ethylene oxide cylinders buried.
This property is owned by a Mr. Finley and is located in Statesville, NC.

2.2.2 Issues
Relative response of 13:1 on PID equipment makes real-time monitoring of ethylene oxide only usefull at high concentrations.

2.3 Logistics Section