EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

New Jersey operations continued on a steady path with managing events at the HHW staging and processing facilities in Dover and Paterson.  The NJ Strike Team was activated on September 17, 2011 to respond to a mercury release at an elementary school in Woodland Park, NJ.  The incident occurred when a locally run cleanup operation, to address impacts as a result of Hurricane Irene, resulted in the damage of mercury containing thermometers.  Cleanup operations at the school continued on September 18, 2011.

Activities in New York relating to Hurricane Irene operations also continued on a steady path.  Efforts in recovery of HHW increased in Sidney, located in Delaware County.  On September 17, 2011 volunteers in the county assisted residents with property cleanups.  EPA increased its crew sizes in anticipation of high volumes of HHW being brought into the county collection areas.

EPA continued assessments and recovery operations in the Broome and Tioga County areas as a result of Tropical Storm Lee.  NYSDEC recently distributed a fact sheet discussing the segregation of wastes, including HHW and electronic waste.  Although EPA is providing a staging area for E-Goods, NYSDEC has taken the role of collecting, recycling, and disposing of these materials as EPA does not have a Mission Assignment for such activity.  EPA’s current position and Mission Assignment is to recovery, manage, and dispose of HHW only.  The fact sheet references the EPA Region 2 Ombudsman phone number as point of contact to schedule a curbside pickup if residents are unable to drop off at one of the EPA established collection areas.  A number of calls continued to be received from residents within the two counties for HHW collection.

The REOC investigated concerns of potential releases from Superior Well Service, a facility specializing in well fracking, sealing, and closing located in Owego, NY.  Although the facility was inundated with flood waters, results of the September 17^th investigation indicated no environmental impacts to immediate or surrounding properties.

EPA continued with utilizing a Community Relations plan throughout New York and New Jersey.  Many flyers detailing EPA activities, HHW collection points, informational bulletins, and contact mechanisms have been distributed.  Community Involvement Coordinators have been to hundreds of residential homes as well as community centers, emergency management centers, and businesses.  Radio announcements and television public service announcements have been generated and distributed.  EPA OSCs and CICs continued coordination of public meetings and outreach activities.

CURRENT ISSUES

·         The EPA financial system will be in transition during the month of October.  The response is currently working the paperwork necessary to sustain the response into November.

·         EPA is pursuing a DOT waiver for transport of hazardous materials during recovery efforts in the TS Lee impacted areas.

·         On 9-18-11 the REOC received notice that EPA was issued a drinking water assessment Mission Assignment for TS Lee for $300K.  The MA is dated 9/12/11.  FEMA or ESF #3 had not notified us of this MA.  We will begin the process of mobilizing a drinking water assessment team and pursue with FEMA and ESF #3 the deployment of a joint assessment team to the impact area.

LONG TERM ISSUES

·         Determine the administrative process to address unexpected incidents or emergency responses should they arise during the financial system transition.  The processing of TAs, contractor paperwork, procurement requests, etc. will not be possible during October.  A process is needed to address those tasks for the unexpected incidents that may happen and cannot be currently anticipated.

HURRICANE IRENE OPERATIONS (NJ/NY)

NEW JERSEY RESPONSE ACTIONS

Emergency Response Task Force

·         The Task Force was activated on September 17^th to address a mercury spill at Memorial School, an elementary school located at 15 Memorial Drive, Woodland Park, NJ.  The physical location of the school is at the corner of McBride Avenue and Memorial Drive.  A school cleanup technician dropped a box of rechargeable batteries onto a box of beaker type thermometers.  Approximately 12 thermometers were in the damaged box and approximately 3-4 thermometers were broken.  The impacted boxes (thermometers and batteries) were contained and recovered by EPA crews working in Passaic County and the NJ Strike Team responded to conduct air monitoring via a Lumex mercury vapor analyzer.  The initial response and air monitoring event indicated slightly elevated levels of mercury within the room in which the release occurred.  On September 18^th the Task Force commenced the cleaning of the classroom with mercury vacuums and utilizing a mercury chelating agent cleaning solution.  The room was secured and operations will continue into the next operational period.  Activities will be performed in the evening after school operating hours.

Passaic County

Oil / Hazardous Materials Response and Recovery Actions

• HHW was collected from the municipalities of Paterson and Wayne.  Materials were sent to the Paterson HHW staging and processing area.
• EPA continued to coordinate with Totawa officials for the recovery of HHW.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

·         Paterson  –  Facility was operational and received material from surrounding communities.  Daily perimeter air monitoring continued with results indicating nothing above background. 

Morris County

Oil / Hazardous Materials Response and Recovery Actions

·         No response or recovery actions taken. 

 Household Hazardous Waste / Bulk Liquid Collection and Disposal

·         Dover – Working with county officials, the HHW staging and processing facility received materials from municipalities throughout Morris County.  Segregation and categorization of materials continued as materials were bulked and hazcatted.  This facility has received on 21,000 gallon frac tank from the Riverdale facility and is prepared to accept bulk waste oils from response operations.  Disposal of wastes are scheduled to commence on 09/19/2011.

·         Whippany – No activities occurred at this bulk waste storage area.

Below is a summary table for NJ Incident Reports associated with Irene as of 1335 on 9/18/2011.  The table includes their status and materials involved.

NEW YORK RESPONSE ACTIONS

NYSDEC Region 4 Area 

Oil / Hazardous Materials Response and Recovery Actions

·         Curbside pick-up of HHW continued in Gallupville, Schoharie, and Middleburgh.

·         Continued with HHW assistance in the Village of Unadilla in Otsego County, recovery of HHW that was dropped-off in their village location. Many volunteers were on site to assist the local residents in recovery.  EPA increased its crew size in preparation of the volunteer assistance.

·         EPA Special Ops Team conducted assessment and recovery operations of impacted orphan oil tanks.  Areas covered included Esperance, Middleburgh, Fort Hunter, Pittstown, and Oak Hill.

·         EPA conducted curbside collection of HHW in several residential communities including Pattersonville, Rotterdam Junction, Niskayuna, Scotia, Glenville, and Schenectady.

·         Operations in Sidney increased due to a community volunteer program for organizing residential debris. 

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

·         Greene County

·         Hunter – Facility was operational and is scheduled for closure on 09/24/2011.

·         Windham – Facility was operational and is scheduled for closure on 09/24/2011. 

·         Catskill – Facility was operational and is scheduled for closure on 09/24/2011.  The facility was not accepting material on 09/18/2011. 

·         Prattsville – Facility was operational.  The facility was not accepting material on 09/18/2011.

·         Delaware County

·         Arkville – The last day for public use at the facility was 09/18/2011.  The facility will no longer be accepting material.

·         Sidney – Facility was operational and is scheduled to commence transport and disposal within the next operational period.

·         Schoharie County

·         Howes Cave – This central HHW staging area for the NYSDEC Region 4 area was operational and receiving materials.  Preparations have commenced for the transport and disposal of bulk material.

·         Schoharie Debris Pile – This is the central staging area for all debris in the Village of Schoharie.  Crews continued to segregate and containerize HHW that was received.

NYSDEC Region 5 Area

Oil / Hazardous Materials Response and Recovery Actions

·         EPA continued HHW collection in the town of Jay, NY. 

·         EPA continued with orphan container reconnaissance and recovery in the area of Au Sable Chasm.

·         Operations were temporarily suspended on 09/18/2011.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

·         Lewis – Facility was operational.

Below is a summary table for NY Incident Reports associated with Irene as of 1335 on 9/18/2011.  The table includes their status and materials involved.

CUMULATIVE HAZARDOUS WASTE SUMMERY TABLE – HURRICANE IRENE

Below is a summery table indicating the amount of containers collected through HHW and orphan container recovery efforts in response to Hurricane Irene.  This data was collected at 1335 on 09/18/2011.  Container counts may include numbers not previously reported from past operational periods.

The Region 2 Regional Emergency Operations Center (REOC) is finalizing a letter to notify municipalities on the closure of HHW collection areas.  The letter identifies the transition plan from an EPA managed HHW collection site back to a local or county run collection site.  The letter is in the review process. 

REOC continues to work on securing DOT Waivers for the transport of HHW and Orphan containers to collection areas related to the TS Lee response efforts.  Requests have been sent.

REOC continues working on long term staffing needs as well as transition plans to state, county, and local entities where appropriate. 

Additional resources have been ordered and deployed to the Binghamton area to assist with initial reconnaissance missions, recovery of oil/hazardous materials, and orphan containers.  Additional resources were requested for Schenectady County to assist with a community volunteer debris organization event. 

The 09/17/2011 daily safety message was sent out and is posted on the regional incident website.  An ASO has been assigned to the field and is providing safety support to HHW’s and orphan container collection activities in the New York area of operation.  Bacterial infections among several firefighters have been reported by the New York Department of Health. Handwashing, hygiene, injury prevention and updating Tetanus vaccines are being stressed to all site workers.  First aid kits and waterless hand sanitizer are being provided for EPA staff deploying to the field and are also located at the HHW collection areas and staging areas.

The 09/18/2011 daily safety message was sent out and is posted on the regional incident website.  The NY ASO has been conducting field safety inspections of the HHW’s and noted several areas for improvement with decontamination, chemical handling procedures, MSDS’s and use of the “buddy” system.  The Safety Orientation has been revised and posted to the website.  The Check-in Process Checklist has also been revised to include requirements for incoming field personnel to have a medical clearance and current safety training.  

Steve Touw has been designated as the Liaison Officer (LNO) for Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee response efforts.  The LNO continues to pursue requests for funding increases and performance periods for field operations Mission Assignments in both NJ and NY.

The LNO has informed the FEMA JFO in NJ of residents' concerns about residual oil and staining in yards, and the exclusion of coverage for its removal under both homeowners and FEMA flood insurance policies.  Issues associated with methods of removal and remediation, as well as the potential costs, were presented to FEMA, for consideration in the event the state requests assistance from EPA under our a mission assignment.

The LNO continues to monitor FEMA Sitreps from NJ and NY, and other sources, for information which may assist or impact our current missions. 

·         Pat Seppi, 646-369-0068 Public Information Officer, Edison REOC

·         Larisa Romanowski 515-703-0101, CIC for NYSDEC Region 4.

·         In Schenectady County, the CIC went door-to-door distributing outreach materials.

·         Natalie Loney, 718-288-7253 CIC for NYSDEC Region 7.

·         In Tioga County, the CIC and OSCs attended a public meeting on 09/16/2011 in the town of Owego.  The CIC also visited OEM offices in Tioga and Broom Counties to distribute outreach information.  Work was also conducted on newspaper notices scheduled for next week.

·         David Kluesner, 908-420-7261 CIC for NJ. 

The following table is a reflection of the most current available resources at the time and day of reporting.  It reflects the amount of personnel solely on the day of reporting.  Because the Situation Report details over several days, the following table may not be a representation of every work day.

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

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

Liaison Officer, Steve Touw                                                             908-420-4458

Information Officer, Patricia (Pat) Seppi                                           646-369-0068

The next Situation Report will be distributed on Wednesday September 21, 2011.

General Weather for the next Operational Period:

·         In NJ operational areas, weather should be sunny to partly sunny.  Temperatures from High 40s to Low 70s.

·         In NY operational areas, weather should be sunny to partly sunny with temperatures from High 30s to High 60s

·         30-50 % chance of precipitation with possible thunderstorms is expected starting Tuesday (9/20) thru Friday (9/23)