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R2 Hurricane Irene/TS Lee (NY) Response

All POL/SITREP's for this site R2 Hurricane Irene/TS Lee (NY) Response
Edison, NJ - EPA Region II
POLREP #16
Response Operations Continue
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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
R2 Hurricane Irene/TS Lee (NY) Response - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region II

Subject: POLREP #16
Response Operations Continue
R2 Hurricane Irene/TS Lee (NY) Response

Edison, NJ
Latitude: 40.5159553 Longitude: -74.3550459


To:
From: Eric Mosher, Regional Incident Coordinator
Date: 9/10/2011
Reporting Period: 09/10/2011

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number:      Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: Stafford Act    Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:      Start Date: 8/26/2011
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The movement of household hazardous waste from municipality operated staging areas dominated operations in New Jersey.  Materials collected in municipalities throughout Passaic and Morris Counties were transported to the Dover HHW processing area, where materials are being bulked by waste-stream. 

In New York, towns and villages located in Essex County requested curbside collection of HHW.  EPA continued to perform this task and transport all containers to the Au Sable Forks staging area.  In all operational areas of NY, activities included coordination with local and State counterparts and the collection of HHW and orphan containers.

FEMA and the State of New York continued to keep the REOC informed of environmental impacts associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee.  Twelve counties received emergency declarations by FEMA.  As a result, EPA is awaiting Mission Assignments to commence activities in these areas.

Static vigilance was maintained with 9/11 ceremonies conducted throughout New York City.  The REOC continued to be response ready with resources and assets located north, south, and west of NYC.  Intelligence and media reports continue to be reviewed for any additional threats that may be associated with the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks in New York. 

Tropical Storm Maria started impacting interests in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.  TS Maria is expected to dump nearly 10 inches of rain within the next 24 hours and generate 1-2 foot storm surges.  Airports throughout the USVI have been closed and the Governor has issued curfews throughout the Islands.  The storm is expected to pass through Puerto Rico late tonight.



2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
   

Emergency Response Task Force

·         The Task Force was not activated.

 

NEW JERSEY RESPONSE ACTIONS

 

The Passaic River has started to recede after cresting earlier today in several municipalities.

 

Passaic County

 

Oil / Hazardous Materials Response and Recovery Actions

  • The area around Presidential Boulevard in Woodland Park remains flooded.  Booming strategies will be re-assessed when waters recede.
  • EPA met with officials of the City of Paterson to discuss immediate and future HHW and orphan container collection needs.  Environmental impact assessments will be conducted in the near future.

 

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

·         Clifton –The municipality is operating a HHW staging area.  EPA is transporting materials from the township to the Dover HHW staging and processing facility.

·         Pompton Lakes – No EPA actions occurred at this municipality operated HHW.   

·         Wayne - The municipality is operating a HHW collection point from curbside pickup.  EPA is transporting materials to the Dover HW facility.

 

Bergen County

 

Oil / Hazardous Materials Response and Recovery Actions

·         An assessment at the Ramapough Mountain Indians ceremonial grounds showed stained vegetation and artifacts.  No recoverable material was located in the area.

 

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

·         No HHW staging areas have been established by EPA in Bergen County.

 

Morris County

 

Oil / Hazardous Materials Response and Recovery Actions

·         HHW assessments were conducted in Pequannock and Lincoln Park. 

 

 Household Hazardous Waste / Bulk Liquid Collection and Disposal

·         Dover - The HHW staging and processing facility continued to receive materials from the tri-county area.  Preparations continued for personnel to characterize the hazardous materials being brought in.  Bulking of materials commenced. A T&D coordinator visited the site in preparations for disposal activities.

·         Riverdale - The bulk storage collection area was not utilized during the operational activities.

·         Whippany – The liquid bulk collection area is no longer receiving materials and is awaiting removal.

·         Lake Hiawatha – No EPA actions occurred at this municipality operated HHW.

·         Denville - The municipality is collecting and staging HHW.  EPA collected materials and transported them to the Dover HHW staging area.

 

Below is a summary table for NJ Incident Reports as of 1400 on 9/10/2011.  The table includes their status and materials involved.

 

New Jersey Incidents

Incident Status

Material Type

Closed

Managed

Open

Grand Total

Oil

35

5

4

44

Other

Haz

 

2

 

2

Grand Total

35

7

4

46

 

NEW YORK RESPONSE ACTIONS

 

NYSDEC Region 4 Area 

Oil / Hazardous Materials Response and Recovery Actions

·         EPA continued curbside pickup of HHW in Schoharie, Middleburgh, Central Bridge, Livingstonville, and Preston Hollow (all located in Schoharie County).  Materials were transported to the Howes Cave HHW facility.  Curbside collection of HHW was also conducted in Prattsville (Greene County).

·         Curbside pickup of HHW occurred in Arkville (Delaware County) along with coordination with the fire department on locating orphan containers.

·         Orphan containers and HHW continued to be recovered from Arkville and Prattsville.   Support was provided to NYCDEP regarding orphan containers located in the reservoir.

·         Crews assessed a 1500 pound propane tank that was floating in the Hudson River.

 

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

·         Greene County

·         Hunter – Facility was operational.

·         Windham – Facility was operational. 

·         Catskill – Facility was operational. 

·         Prattsville – Facility was operational.

·         Delaware County

·         Fleishmanns – Facility was operational, however it is projected to close on 9/11/2011.

·         Arkville – Facility was operational.

·         Schoharie County

·         Howes Cave - HHW staging area is operational and receiving materials from ERRS crews.

·         Schoharie Debris Pile – Crews continued to segregate and containerize HHW received into the yard and located throughout the pile.  Materials were then transported to the Howes Cave HHW.

 

NYSDEC Region 5 Area

 

NYSDEC Region 5 area includes the following counties; Essex, Clinton, Franklin, Hamilton, Warren, Saratoga, Washington, and Fulton.  EPA is conducting its initial assessment and coordinating with state and county officials in Region 5.

 

Oil / Hazardous Materials Response and Recovery Actions

·         Orphan container recovery operations continued in Upper Jay, Jay, Keene, and Keene Valley all located in Essex County.

·         Activities included basement pump-outs, recovery of product, and addressing oil contaminated debris

 

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

·         Au Sable Forks – The facility was operational. 

·         Elizabethtown – No information was available for this area.

 

Below is a summary table for NY Incident Reports as of 1400 on 9/10/2011.  The table includes their status and materials involved.

  

New York Incidents

Incident Status

Material Type

Closed

Managed

Open

Grand Total

Oil

6

 

5

11

Other

1

2

3

Haz

 10

1

 1

12

Grand Total

16

1

6

26

   

 

CUMULATIVE HAZARDOUS WASTE SUMMERY TABLE

 

Below is a summery table indicating the amount of containers collected through HHW and orphan container recovery efforts.  This data was collected at 1400 on 09/10/2011.  Container counts include numbers not previously reported from 09/06/2011 – 09/08/2011 (see footnote).

 

Cumulative Hazardous Waste Summary            Operational Period:  09/09/2011

 

 

 

 

 

Small

 

 

 

 

Propane

 

Other

Containers

Op-Period

State

Location

Drums

Tanks

Cylinders

(Large)

(<5 gal)

Totals

Cumulative

New York

2

47

7

19

2355

2430

11854

New Jersey

0

32

7

5

890

934

9191

Op-Period Totals

2

79

14

24

3245

 

 

Cumulative Totals

12

317

33

91

20138

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grand Total

3364

Grand Cumulative

20591

 Note: Numbers listed in the table are accurate at the time of delivery of this report.  Field crews sometimes transfer numbers following the end of the reporting period due to communication issues.  As a result, daily totals may change in future reports to capture all containers collected for that operational period.  Because of this, operational period totals do not reflect true count numbers due to late reporting.  However, the grand cumulative numbers are accurate at the time this report.

 

 

TROPICAL STORM LEE (NY ONLY)

 

At the time of reporting a Mission Assignment has not been given to EPA from FEMA.  Discussions at the IMAT indicate that Mission Assignments are being processed for the recovery of oil and hazardous substances to include household hazardous waste and orphan containers within the impact areas.  At this time, the REOC remains aware of activities that may be requested by EPA to conduct in the future.

NYSDEC Region 7 Area

Reports were received that the Endicott Water Treatment Plant was in imminent danger of failure due to flooding.  FEMA was working with Broome County officials to ensure bottled water services were available.

 

EPA REGION 2 COORDINATION ACTIVITIES

 

EPA Region 2 is currently manning the following coordination centers;

·         FEMA IMAT (Albany, NY) – (1) OSC coordinating with the State and FEMA on increases to existing Mission Assignments and processing of Mission Assignments for TS Lee NY.

·         NJ Joint Field Office (Neptune, NJ) – (1) OSC remotely coordinated activities with government partners relating to Hurricane Irene activities.

·          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)

·         Coordinating efforts related to operations, planning, resources, and logistics from the REOC.  The REOC is staging and coordinating the deployment of operational resources including EPA ERRS and RST contractor support.

·         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.

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

 

  2.2 Planning Section
   

EPA continued to staff the Region 2 Regional Emergency Operations Center (REOC).  An Incident Management Team (IMT) continues to work with ERRS Managers, ERRS Field Cost Accountants, and RST support.  All coordination at the regional level, including drinking water, wastewater, RCRA, TSDs, and other issues, are facilitated through the REOC.  All cost tracking is being conducted at the REOC.  The REOC will staff the incident through December 2011 to ensure the coverage of operational activities and maintain appropriate rest periods for all responding personnel.

 

  2.3 Logistics Section
   

No new information to report during this operational period.

 

  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.

  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer

The daily safety message is posted on the regional incident website: http://www.epaosc.org/R2HurricaneIreneResponse.  Coordination is ongoing with the different power companies in NJ to develop procedures to pull meters on an emergency basis if required Utility companies in NY are also being identified and contacted for electrical safety procedures needed to disconnect power to buildings in NY operational areas.  Site specific HASP development is continuing for specific work locations.  

 

2.6 Liaison Officer

A Liaison Officer has not yet been assigned however coordination activities are being done at several locations and with multiple Federal and State Agencies.



2.7 Information Officer

Pat Seppi is the Public Information Officer and can be reached at 646-369-0068.  No CICs were deployed into the field during the reporting period.  The PIO worked on the following:

 

·         The Public Service Announcement generated for HHW staging areas in Delaware and Greene Counties was altered to address the change in hours of operations and to note the service is free.

·         Larisa Romanowski 515-703-0101, CIC for NYSDEC Region 4 has been delayed until 09/13/2011.

·         Addressed concerns from Garfield, NJ residents regarding re-flooding of basements.

·         Answered questions regarding the Ramapough Mountain Indians and the ceremonial ground that is stained with oil.

 

3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command

Unified Command is currently not activated at this level.



3.2 Cooperating Agencies

EPA is currently coordinating with FEMA, NYS DEC, NYS DOH, NJ DEP, NYSEMO, NJOEM.



4. Personnel On Site
 

Region/State

Current

EPA Personnel In Field
(All Venues other than EPA Offices)

Current

EPA Contractor Personnel In Field

EPA Personnel in REOC

Contractor Personnel in REOC

 

Total

Region 2

 

 

13

25

38

    New York

4

56

 

 

60

    New Jersey

6

30

 

 

36

Total

10

86

13

25

134

 

5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.

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

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 contact the EPA duty officer at (732) 906-6850

 

EPA Edison REOC                                                                        732-906-6850

Afterhours Notifications, National Response Center (NRC)             800-424-8802
Regional Incident Commander (RIC) for NY, James Daloia             908-420-4505
Regional Incident Commander (RIC) for NJ, Christopher Jimenez    908-420-4484

FEMA IMAT (Albany), Dwayne Harrington, OSC                          908-420-4492

NJ EOC (Trenton), Ellen Banner, OSC                                           908- 420-4462
NJ FRO (Neptune), Steve Touw, OSC                                           908-420-4458

 

6.2 Reporting Schedule

Situation Reports are planned for release at 1630 on a daily basis.



7. Situational Reference Materials
 

Contingency Plans have been developed for any issues that may arise from 9/11 events and TS Maria in the Caribbean.