EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Operations in New York responding to the effects of Tropical Storm Lee have increased and now account for a majority of assets deployed.  Four staging areas remain the focus for HHW processing, as materials are collected from various communities in Broome and Tioga Counties.  EPA and NYSDEC continued to conduct reconnaissance missions on land and along surface waters, identifying orphan containers.  These operations are anticipated to increase within the next reporting period.  The potential for additional counties to request assistance and expand EPAs operational area is valid.  Communities located in Chenango and Chemung Counties are stating a need for removal of oil and hazardous debris.

Response activities in NY as a result of Hurricane Irene continued.  Although the amount of HHW collected from municipalities has started to decline, orphan container recovery has increased.  Access to areas where these tanks were located are now becoming available, as well as the resources to retrieve these materials.  Most collection areas in NY for HHW are scheduled to be completed by the end of September 2011.

Operations in New Jersey resulting from Hurricane Irene remain at steady state with the collection of HHW from municipalities throughout Passaic and Morris Counties.  EPA continues to operate two processing facilities for HHW and orphan containers, located in Dover and Paterson.  EPA continues working with NJDEP on responding to residential complaints and requests for oil response operations.

The Community Relations Program established for Irene/Lee operations continues to be a success.  EPA Community Involvement Coordinators continue to work with OSCs, local emergency managers, and community leaders on hosting public meetings and providing outreach materials.  Hundreds of flyers have been distributed throughout affected communities in NY and NJ.  Radio announcements, television spotlights, and newspaper advertisements have presented EPAs mission in response and recovery efforts.  The public continues to contact the REOC, Regional Public Liaison, and Public Affairs Division for information and advice.

CURRENT ISSUES

·         Resources to address the impacted areas of New York from TS Lee have been deployed and are near peak strength to support the HHW and orphan container missions in Broome and Tioga Counties.

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

·         Determined procedures to address emergency response and unanticipated financial transactions during the agency financial transition in October.

LONG TERM ISSUES

·         The HHW mission in New Jersey is nearing completion.  HHW collection activities plan to shut down by 10/9/11.  Disposal operations will continue for few weeks after that date.  

HURRICANE IRENE OPERATIONS (NJ/NY)

NEW JERSEY RESPONSE ACTIONS

Emergency Response Task Force

·         The Task Force completed the recovery of mercury from Memorial Elementary School in Woodland Park on 09/19/2011.  Following the physical removal of Mercury beads with a mercury vacuum, a chelating agent was applied to the floor surface.  The room was heated and ventilated.  Porous materials, such as boxes and paper were removed.  Final surveys conducted with a Lumex mercury vapor analyzer indicated levels well below health and environmental concerns.  Mercury and contaminated material was sent to the Dover HHW for packaging and disposal. 

·         The Task Force responded to an orphan container located in Oakland on 09/20/2011.  A resident of Pompton Lake contacted EPA with the location of a heating oil tank found in the water.  EPA met with Bergen County HazMat and NJDEP.  The State requested that they retrieve the container and any product.

·         The Task Force was deployed to Lake Hiawatha on 09/21/2011 to respond to reports of oil contaminated basements.  Two residential properties under foreclosure had impacts to home heating oil tanks, causing a release of oil into the basement.  NJDEP requested that they remove the material.

Passaic County

Oil / Hazardous Materials Response and Recovery Actions

• HHW was collected from the municipalities of Paterson, Wayne, and Little Falls.  Materials were sent to the Paterson HHW staging and processing area.  Asbestos containing material was collected from residential properties in Little Falls, and sent to the Dover facility for disposal.
• EPA continued to coordinate with officials throughout Passaic County for the recovery of HHW at municipality operated collection points.
• EPA continued orphan container recovery in Paterson along the Passaic River.
• A letter was submitted to the Passaic County HHW Coordinator stating that EPAs final collection of materials will occur on October 9, 2011.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

·         Paterson  –  Facility was operational and received material from surrounding communities.  Residential drop-off of materials continued.  Daily perimeter air monitoring continued with results indicating nothing above background.  Shipment of materials to proper disposal facilities commenced.  The facility is scheduled to continue receiving HHW until October 9, 2011. 

Morris County

Oil / Hazardous Materials Response and Recovery Actions

·         The NJ Task Force responded to an incident in Lake Hiawatha.  Refer to the Task Force section for more details.

·         EPA coordinated the retrieval of HHW collected from Denville, Dover, Lake Hiawatha, Parsippany, and Rockaway Borough.

·         A letter was submitted to the Morris County HHW Coordinator indicating that EPAs final collection of HHW in municipalities located in the county will be October 2, 2011.

 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 prepared for disposal.  Commencement of hazard characterization of unknown material occurred.  Disposal of non-regulated and regulated materials commenced.

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

NEW YORK RESPONSE ACTIONS

NYSDEC Region 4 Area 

Oil / Hazardous Materials Response and Recovery Actions

·         On 09/19/2011 and 09/20/2011, municipalities in Schenectady County requested that EPA collect HHW from residential properties located in Pattersonville, Rotterdam Junction, Niskayuna, Scotia, and Glenville.  All material was transported to the Howes Cave HHW processing facility.  Operations in Schenectady County were completed on 09/20/2011.

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

·         EPA conducted assessment and recovery operations of orphan containers in Middleburgh and Prattsville.

·         Continued with HHW assistance in the Village of Unadilla in Otsego County, recovery of HHW that was dropped-off in their village location.

·         EPA flyers were posted in local newspapers throughout Schoharie County.  EPA has been receiving an increase of phone calls from residents requesting information and assistance.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

·         Greene County

·         Hunter – Facility was operational and received HHW from residential drop-offs.  It is scheduled for closure on 09/24/2011.

·         Windham – Facility was operational and received HHW from residential drop-offs.  It is scheduled for closure on 09/24/2011. 

·         Catskill – Facility was operational and received HHW from residential drop-offs.  It is scheduled for closure on 09/24/2011. 

·         Prattsville – Facility was operational.  Material was received from local sources as well as staging areas from outside the county.  Materials are being bulked and packaged.

·         Delaware County

·         Arkville – This staging area was permanently closed to the public COB on 09/18/2011.  Materials are being packaged, secured, and sent to the Prattsville HHW.  Operations are scheduled to be completed by 09/30/2011.

·         Sidney – Facility was operational and materials are being packaged, secured, and transported to the Prattsville HHW.  Operations are scheduled to be completed by 09/30/2011.

·         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 and orphan container recovery in Au Sable Chasm and Jay. 

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

·         Lewis – Facility was operational.

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 1405 on 09/21/2011.  Container counts may include numbers not previously reported from past operational periods.

The Region 2 Regional Emergency Operations Center (REOC) continues to work on long term staffing for operations in the field and in the REOC.  Schedules for day-time and after-hours response duty have been developed.    

The REOC generated letters to Morris and Passaic County HHW Coordinators detailing the closure of HHW collection operations.  Memos were submitted on 09/21/2011.

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. 

The majority of operations have stabilized in response to Irene events.  Resources in New York and New Jersey are starting to decrease.  However, efforts associated with TS Lee in New York have increased the need for resources.  Approximately 50% of deployed resources are in the Binghamton area working in Broome and Tioga Counties.  Region 2 has requested the assistance of Region 6 to provide OSC support for additional personnel.  Boat operations in Broome and Tioga Counties may facilitate a request for the USCG Atlantic Strike Team. 

The 09/19/2011 daily safety message was sent out and is posted on the regional incident website.  Safety site visits were conducted in Prattsville, NY and Paterson, NJ.  No major safety issues noted.  Minor safety issues were identified and corrected.  A safety visit was made to the mercury spill clean-up operation at Memorial School in Woodland Park, NJ.  No safety issues identified.  The R2 SO is in Route to Binghamton, NY to meet with the NY ASO.  Site visits will be made to the 4 HHW’s in the Binghamton area and MSDS’s from the HASP are being provided to the HHW’s.

On 09/20/2011 the R2 SO and NY ASO conducted safety visits to four HHW collection areas in the Binghamton, NY area.  Boat operations are being planned and safety procedures are being developed to address these activities.  The Tropical Storm Lee HASP will be revised to include boat operations.

On 09/21/2011 a traffic accident was reported by the NY ASO.  The Safety SOPs and JHA's were submitted by ER and are under review by the safety officer.  No injuries occurred as a result of the accident.  Boat operations are under review for both NY and possibly NJ for boat safety requirements.  Safety requirements for excavators crushing drums were finalized. 

Steve Touw has been designated as the Liaison Officer (LNO) for Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee response efforts.  The LNO continues to coordinate with FEMA on requests for funding increases and performance period extensions for EPA's field operations Mission Assignments in both NJ and NY.  The LNO has stressed to FEMA the importance of obtaining the MA funding increases before EPA's financial management system is shut down on 9/30/2011.  The LNO is working closely with the Finance Section to provide FEMA current burn rates and projected project completion costs to document the basis for our increase requests.

The LNO continues to assist with interagency issues such as residual oil, overflight requests, the identification of potential assessment activities under the TS Lee drinking water mission assignment, etc.

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

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

·         Facilitated the publishing of EPA information in local newspapers.

·         The CIC is no longer operating in the field and is available remotely.

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

·         The CIC visited the Tioga County OEM and two FEMA disaster recovery centers to drop off information.

·         Attended public meetings on 09/20/2011 in Union (Vestal, Broome County) and Highland Park (Endwell, Broome County)

·         Distributed EPA fact sheets in public areas located in Chemung County.

·         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

Situation Reports are generated on Wednesdays and Sundays.

The next Situation Report will be distributed on Sunday September 25, 2011. 

The REOC continues to manage day-time response activities.  Calls and responses have been managed for the following: Dupont Deepwater, Paterson Odor Complaint, and Green Rain in Williamsburg.

The REOC continues to receive calls from residents on Purchase Street in Rye, NY.  Residents displaced in hotels are supposed to return in a few days to the apartment building.  They are complaining that the apartments still smell of diesel.  The Westchester County Health Department has collected indoor air samples and is awaiting results.  NYSDEC has been collecting soil samples outside the facility.  The businesses occupying the ground level have been given clearance to re-occupy.  9 units out of the 99 in the structure are in the process of being gutted.

The REOC is monitoring Tropical Storm Ophelia that is projected to impact interests in the Caribbean on Sunday.

General Weather for the next Operational Period:

·         In NJ operational areas, rain is projected along with periods of dense fog.  Temperatures from High 40s to Low 70s.

·         In NY operational areas, thunderstorms are possible with temperatures from High 30s to High 60s