INCIDENT CATEGORY

EPA Region 2 is currently responding to threats and actual spills/releases of oil and hazardous substances caused by the impacts of Hurricane Irene which moved through the NJ and NY area on Sunday, August 28, 2011.  EPA Region 2 was also activated as part of the Stafford Act Response and is coordinating Emergency Support Function 10 (ESF-10).  EPA is responding under its authorities provided by CERCLA and OPA as well as authorized Mission Assignments under the Stafford Act.

INCIDENT LOCATIONS

With the passing of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene, high winds and significant rainfalls have caused widespread infrastructure damage throughout the NJ and NY areas.  EPA is currently coordinating and collecting data on the hardest hit impact areas with respect to environmental threats.  Tropical storm force winds extended outward upto 320 miles from the storm center and record rainfalls have and are expected to cause significant flooding throughout the Region 2 area.

DESCRIPTION OF THREAT

Environmental threats at this point in time include possible point-source oil/chemical spills/releases from flooding events and failed infrastructure (power, transportation, etc.).   Threats also include possible impacts to drinking water systems due to biological and/or oil/chemical hazards from flood waters. 

EPA Region 2 is currently manning the following coordination centers;

·         FEMA R2 RRCC (NYC) – (1) OSC coordinating Mission Assignments and assisting with the Planning efforts in the overall Stafford Act Response.

·         NY State EOC (Albany, NY) – (1) OSC coordinating and assisting with State  “Requests for Assistance” (RFAs) and updating State elements on EPA Planning and Response Actions.

·         NJ State EOC (Trenton, NJ) – (1) OSC coordinating and assisting with State  “Requests for Assistance” (RFAs) and updating State elements on EPA Planning and Response Actions.

·         EPA Region 2 REOC (Edison, NJ)

o   Coordinating efforts related to operations, planning, resources, and logistics from the REOC. 

o   The REOC is manning the Regional Hotline phone and addressing follow-up and response actions to incidents both related and unrelated to the impacts of Hurricane Irene.

o   The REOC is tracking situational information related to RFAs and changing conditions on the ground.

EPA Site Assessment Activities

·         NPL sites continue to be evaluated and assessed for any significant impacts related to Hurricane Irene.  Region 2 Remedial Program is in the process of coordinating with all RPMs on assessment(s) of NPL sites.

·         REOCcontinues coordinating with OSCs and active sites are being assessed for any significant impacts related to Hurricane Irene.

·         RMP Facilities continue to be assessed for any significant impacts related to Hurricane Irene.

·         FRP Facilities continue to be assessed for any significant impacts related to Hurricane Irene.

Emergency Response Actions

OIL SPILL, Unknown Source, South Hackensack, NJ

Reports were received late on 8/29 regarding possible oil spills in the South Hackensack, NJ area.  OSC Norrell investigated and determined spill was an unknown type of oil released into the Saddle River.  The Saddle River connects directly to the Passaic River west of Garfield.  Spill impacted a roadway bridge that passes over the Saddle River where River Road intersects with South Main Street and small tributary to Saddle River.  The oil appeared to have been released to the river and impacted the roadway when flood waters crested over the bridge. Local PD closed the road due to slippery conditions created by the oil. NJDEP contractor conducted cleanup of the roadway and deployed boom along the stream

NJDEP has verbally requested EPA assistance to address visible product on the river banks up-stream and down-stream of the bridge. OSC Norrell revisited the site on 8/30 to further assess the need and scope for a federal response.

American Cyanimid NPL Site, Bridgewater, NJ (Somerset)

Due to high water levels the main plant berm was impacted.  The site is inundated with water, without power, and currently inaccessible to implement repairs. There was a concern for impound berms 1 and 2 which were observed in-tact on 8/29/2011.  PRP has collected an upriver and downriver surface water sample for VOC's, SVOC's and metals and requested a quick 24-hour lab turnaround. We have been asked by USEPA to repeat the sampling process at the same locations tomorrow. 

SOS Fuel Oil Company, Tuxedo, NY Response

REOC has been tracking a situation in Tuxedo, NY, along the Ramapo River.  SOS Oil facility was inundated with flood waters causing displacement of at least (3) 9,000 Oil trucks, (1) 500,000 gallon fuel oil tank, (1) 10,000 gallon fuel tank, along with buildings and other site equipment.  NYS DEC was on scene 8/29 overseeing PRP response efforts.  Reports were received late on 8/29 and 8/30 that off-site impacts were causing odor issues to nearby residences.  As flood waters further receded, oil contamination was observed further off-site and in closer proximity to nearby residential properties.  OSC Bechtel was deployed on 8/30 to determine need and scope of further response actions.  Updates from NJDEP indicated that approximately 3,000 gallons were released from this location.

11 Sale Street, Moonachie, NJ Investigation

At the request of NJDEP, OSC Ferriola was deployed to Sale Street in Moonackie, NJ to investigate fuel oil odors that have been reported from possible oil tanks within a trailer park area.  OSC Ferriola reported this incident involved approximately 20 gallons of oil.

11 William Street, South River, NJ Investigation

The REOC received notification on a presumed discharge of oil from a 1000 gallon oil UST.  OSC Ferriola was deployed to investigate and determine need and/or scope of federal response action.  Investigation determined that this situation has been an ongoing event during storm activities and the RP at the adjacent property has a remediation contractor scheduled for tank pump out and tank removal. Discharge is secured at this point.

·         REOC is currently working on resource plans to include EPA personnel and contractor resources.

·         REOC is coordinating / contacting additional Region 2 Programs for support related assessment of other program facilities (drinking water, waste water, RCRA TSDs, etc.)

·         REOC is drafting SOWs and TDDs for ERRS and RST Contractor Suppport

·         REOC began implementing cost tracking measures for incident response actions.

·         REOC working on a data management planning in anticipation of large data collection needs arising later in the week.

Major impacts to property and infrastructure throughout the region may cause impacts to response actions and or response personnel availability. 

The RECO in Edison, NJ is fully operational and at this point in time, no forward command posts have been established. 

FEMA has not yet established a Joint Field Operations (JFO) Office in NJ and/or NY

Response operations and planning information are being provided to the EPA Public Affairs Division.  Patricia (Pat) Seppi has been identified as the Incident Information Officer.  Pat Seppi can be reached at 646-369-0068.  Discussions are occurring related the establishment of hotlines / call center if/when the need arises.

WEBSITE:  http://www.epaosc.org/R2HurricaneIreneResponse

INSTRUCTIONS FOR EPAOSC.NET:

If you do not have a password or have never used the EPAOSC.net website before, you will need to click the login button on the top right of the web page. Once on the login page, you will need to click on REGISTER HERE, provide the information requested and submit. This submits your request to ERT, and they will generate a user ID and password for you to enter the private side of the Website. In less than 10 minutes after registering, you should receive an e-mail from ERT SUPPORT providing the information (login and password). At this point you can then enter the website: www.epaosc.net, click on log in, then enter your information. Once logged in, click on websites, then click on Region 2. The Hurricane Irene website should be one of the first ten websites that pop up, if not, you can scroll down to the find the site. Click on R2 Hurricane Irene. Once on the site, you can navigate to the documents that will be stored there.

If you find that you are having trouble viewing the website, please give the EPA duty officer a call at (732) 906-6850

EPA Edison REOC:                                                                           732-906-6850

Afterhours Notifications, National Response Center (NRC):            800-424-8802
Regional Incident Commander (RIC), James Daloia                         908-420-4505
NYC EOC (Albany), Michael Solecki, OSC                                     908-420-4501

NJ EOC (Trenton), Carl Pellegrino, OSC                                           908- 420-4491
FEMA District 1 RRCC (NYC), Steve Touw, OSC                         908-420-4458

NYC EOC - EPA not requested at this time