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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
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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 Action |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
8/16/2011 |
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Start Date: |
8/16/2011 |
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Demob Date: |
8/18/2011 |
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Completion Date: |
8/18/2011 |
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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
Emergency response - power plant
1.1.2 Site Description
1.1.2.1 Location
The Jasper Municipal Utilities Power Plant is located at 1163 East 15th Street in Jasper, Dubois County, Indiana. Site coordinates are latitude 38.4004480 north and longitude 86.9149630 west. The site is located in a mixed use area, including industrial, residential, and agricultural areas. To the north are industrial factories. To the east is a public riverwalk and agricultural areas. A residence bounds the site to the south. Industrial facilities and residences are located to the west.
The site is a municipally-owned coal-fired power plant. The facility only operates intermittantly.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Coal stored at the Jasper Municipal Utilities Power Plant spontaneously combusted on August 16, 2011. Approximately 200 to 300 tons of coal are stored in a bin inside the plant. The coal cannot be removed and firefighting efforts have not been effective at extinguishing the fire. Current plans are to extinguish the fire by consuming the coal to generate electricity. Facility operators estimate that the coal will be consumed by August 18th.
A plume of smoke is discharging from the facility into the neighorhoring areas. Combustion by-products of coal include nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
At the request of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted air monitoring and sampling. EPA and the Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contractor deployed AreaRAEs and the Rapid Assessment Tool (RAT). EPA collected monitoring data for volatile organic compounds (VOC), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulates.
EPA reviewed time-weighted averages (TWA) of monitoring data for August 16 and 17 and compared the results to action levels provided by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
NO2 data exceeded the action level at the Unit 2 location (15th and Royal) from 0700 to 0900 hours on August 17th. TWA at this location ranged from 0 to 0.13 parts per million (ppm); the action level for one-hour exposure is 0.1 ppm. At the Unit 3 location (InWood Furniture), NO2 results also exceeded the action level from 0100 to 0200 hours on August 17th. The TWA was 0.15 ppm. EPA contacted the Dubois County Health Department about high NO2 readings at the Unit 3 location the evening of August 17th. The Health Department notifed the businesses in the area, although workers had gone home for the day.
EPA will complete a review of data from August 17 and 18 and forward the results to Dubois County Health Department.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
August 16 - 18, 2011, EPA responded to a fire at the Jasper Municipal Utilities Power Plant at the request of IDEM. EPA conducted air monitoring and sampling to determine if there was a threat to public health from the uncontrolled combustion of coal. By 2300 hours on August 17th, the power plant had consumed the coal on-site. EPA continued air monitoring until the smoke had dissapated and collected final confirmation samples.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
For the period from August 17 at 1500 hours to August 18, 2011, EPA performed the following activities:
- Conducted air monitoring using AreaRAEs and RAT;
- Collected three air samples for laboratory analysis;
- Consulted with ATSDR, Dubois County Health Department, and IDEM regarding monitoring data; and
- De-mobilized personnel.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
Information on the PRP is in the site file.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
Not applicable (NA)
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
EPA does not anticipate any additional response activities.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
EPA will analyze the monitoring data and provide it to the Dubois County Health Department and IDEM.
2.2.2 Issues
None.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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NA
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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
The OSCs were the overall safety officers for the response. START prepared a Health and Safety Plan (HASP).
2.6 Liaison Officer
NA
2.7 Information Officer
2.7.1 Public Information Officer
OSC Lam and respresentatives from IDEM and the City of Jasper conducted a press conference at 1400 hours at August 17th. Channel 18 News, WITZ 990 AM, The Herald, Dubois County Free Press, and Ferdinand News attended the press conference and are expected to issue news releases notifying the community of response actions.
2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
NA
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
NA
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
EPA received assistance from the following agencies:
IDEM
ATSDR
Dubois County Health Department
City of Jasper
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4. Personnel On Site
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Personnel worked two 12-hour shifts. The following represents a count of the EPA and contract personnel involved in the response.
2 EPA OSC
4 START contractors
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5. Definition of Terms
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| ATSDR |
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry |
| CO |
Carbon monoxide |
| EPA |
Environmental Protection Agency |
| HASP |
Health and Safety Plan |
| IDEM |
Indiana Department of Environmental Management |
| NA |
Not applicable |
| NO2 |
Nitrogen dioxide |
| OSC |
On-Scene Coordinator |
| PolRep |
Pollution Report |
| ppm |
parts per million |
| PRP |
Potentially Responsible Party |
| RAT |
Rapid Assessment Tool |
| SO2 |
Sulfur dioxide |
| START |
Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team |
| TWA |
Time-weighted average |
| ug/m3 |
micrograms per cubic meter |
| VOC |
Volatile organic compounds |
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6. Additional sources of information
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
Additional information is located at www.epaosc.org/jmucoalfire.
6.2 Reporting Schedule
No additional PolReps will be submitted.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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NA
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