EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Activities relating to Tropical Storm Lee in New York have focused on reconnaissance and collection of orphan containers located along the Susquehanna River, Chenango River, and associated tributaries. EPA completed approximately 25-30 miles of reconnaissance along the eastern segment of the Susquehanna River and and impacted areas of the Chenango River.  EPA is now focusing efforts on the western segment of the Susquehanna River from South Windsor to northern upstream areas.

While EPA is awaiting availability of resources to conduct aerial reconnaissance work, it has begun some limited land-based reconnaissance and collection of orphan containers in the Broome and Tioga County areas.  Aerial reconnaissance support is anticipated early in the coming week pending good weather.

EPA maintains three household hazardous (HHW) waste staging areas in the Broome and Toiga County areas.  They include the Owego Pad, Endicott/Endwell Pad (Scarborough Rd), and the Barlow Orphan Container Pad in Kirkwood.  All collection areas have been closed to the public, however some residents continued to drop off HHW materials.  EPA will continue to support and collect as long as resources are on site.  EPA is working with the State and Counties to inform the public of the current operational status of HHW collection areas.  Where possible, EPA has been directing residents to the county run collection of wastes at the Broome County Landfill.  The current plan is for complete closure of these locations to occur close of business on Saturday, October 15, 2011.  EPA anticipates the initial disposal of TS Lee wastes to begin as early as Monday, October 17, 2011 and continue through its completion.

The Owego Heat Treat operation was completed, with resources re-assigned to other operations, on Saturday, October 9, 2011.

Hurricane Irene operations in NY continue to taper off.  Orphan container reconnaissance and recovery operations are expected to be concluded by Friday, October 14, 2011 with resources demobilized.  All HHW sites in the Irene operations for NY have been closed to the public but as with TS Lee areas, some residents continue to drop off HHW.  While nominal, EPA continues to support while resources allow.  The current plan includes the closure of the Howes Cave facility with remaining wastes being transported to Prattsville for T&D.  Materials remaining at the Lewis staging area will also be transported to Prattsville for final T&D.  EPA anticipates it’s operational footprint to decrease significantly in the Irene operational areas over the next week.

Hurricane Irene operations in the New Jersey areas remain the same.  Operations consisted of packaging waste at the Dover facility and off-site shipments for disposal.  Due to delays in one T&D contact award, October 21, 2011 is the current target date for complete closure of the Dover facility and NJ Irene Operations.

CURRENT ISSUES

None to report

LONG TERM ISSUES

HURRICANE IRENE OPERATIONS (NJ/NY)

NEW JERSEY RESPONSE ACTIONS

EPA is no longer deploying resources for the collection of HHW and orphan containers in New Jersey. 

 Household Hazardous Waste / Bulk Liquid Collection and Disposal

·         Dover – Materials continued to be removed for disposal or recycling purposes.  Remaining materials have been bulked and packaged in preparation for disposal.  All but one of the T&D contracts have been finalized.  The last shipment of materials had been scheduled for 10/15/2011 but due to delays in finalizing one of the T&D contracts, this date has been pushed back to 10/21/2011.

·         Whippany –A T&D contractor has been awarded and EPA is awaiting the removal of this bulk liquid tank.  Removal and disposal of bulk liquids from this tank is planned for 10/14/2011 with removal of the tank scheduled for 10/17/2011.  Decontamination of this tank will occur off-site by the tank contractor.

Below is a Waste Disposition Table for Dover, NJ Facility.  This table was last updated on 10/13/2011.

NEW YORK RESPONSE ACTIONS

NYSDEC Region 4 Area 

Oil / Hazardous Materials Response and Recovery Actions

·         EPA conducted final assessments and collection operations of orphan containers throughout the DEC Region 4 impacted counties; Delaware, Greene, Schoharie, Schenectady, and Montgomery.  Focus areas included shorelines and flood plains along the Schoharie Creek, E. Branch Delaware River, Bush Kill Creek, Bativia Kill Creek.

·         Collection operations are anticipated to be completed by 10/14/2011 with a demobilization planned for most of the EPA assets assigned to this operation.  EPA plans to maintain a small special operations team to address any smaller and/or limited collection operations that may arise over the following week.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

·         HHW and Orphan Container activities have decreased significantly over the past week.  HHW collection sites operated by EPA have been closed to the public.  Limited drop-offs from local residents have been received at both Prattsville and Howes Cave facilities. 

·         Prattsville, Green County – This facility remained operational for limited drop-offs as well as being utilized as the primary orphan container staging area.  This facility also conducted packaging of HHW for off-site shipment.  T&D operations from this facility are on-going.  Prattsville is scheduled to be the last facility to close.  EPA has a target date of 10/25/2011 for the completion of final disposal from this facility.

·         Howes Cave, Schoharie County – This facility was operational with limited receipt of HHW from impacted areas.  EPA operations are scheduled to be complete on 10/15/2011 with all remaining wastes being transported to the Prattsville facility for final T&D.

Below is a Waste Disposition Table for the NYSDEC Region 4 Areas.  This table was last updated on 10/13/2011.

NYSDEC Region 5 Area

Oil / Hazardous Materials Response and Recovery Actions

·         EPA continued orphan container collection in Upper Jay, Keesville, and Clintonville. EPA continues coordinating with NYSDEC on access and limiting environmental impacts during collection of identified containers in areas of the Ausable River. 

·         Orphan container collection continued on the East Fork Au Sable River.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

·         Lewis – Located in Elizabethtown, this facility was closed to the public but EPA continued to conduct scheduled pickups for impacted communities as needed.  EPA continues to operate this facility for the purpose of staging and packaging collected wastes; HHW and Orphan Containers.  The wastes packaged at this facility will be transported to the Prattsville facility where it will be consolidated and shipped off-site for final disposal.

CUMULATIVE HAZARDOUS WASTE SUMMARY 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 1400 on 10/13/2011.  Container counts may include numbers not previously reported from past operational periods.

 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 (New York ONLY)

NYSDEC Region 7 Area

Boat Operations, Orphan Container Reconnaissance/Collection

·         During the past week EPA, with support from NYSDEC and USCG-AST, conducted and completed assessments and container collections from approximately 25-30 miles of river.  Boat Operations were shut down on one day due to weather and safety concerns.  Portions of the Susquehanna River were completed along the southern areas of New York State on 10/12/2011 and EPA has begun assessment/collection efforts on the Susquehanna River moving north from South Windsor to the Interstate 86 bridge.  Collected containers were brought to the Barlow and Owego staging areas to be prepared for future off-site shipment.

Land-based Operations, Orphan Container Reconnaissance/Collection

·         EPA has conducted some limited land-based orphan container reconnaissance and collection efforts in the flood plain areas of the Susquehanna River.  Some debris areas and containers were identified and collected and staged at the Owego and/or Barlow facilities.  EPA is still awaiting the availability of helicopter support to conduct at least two days of aerial reconnaissance.  Upon completion of the aerial reconnaissance/assessment, EPA will have a better idea of actual recovery operations required. This aerial reconnaissance is anticipated to occur early next week.

Owego Heat Treat Response Action

·         Primary dewatering of this facility was completed at 1800 on 10/6/2011.  During the past week EPA continued with assessment and oversight of removal of hazardous containers from this facility.  The primary threats, ammonia cylinders and hydrogen cylinders, were secured and/or recovered on 10/9/2011.  A total of 29 containers were recovered from the east and west buildings.  As of 1800 on 10/9/2011, all ESF-10 response operations were completed at the Owego Heat Treat facility.  EPA, coordinating with NYSDEC, is planning to conduct a CERCLA removal assessment at this facility.  This operation will be done under EPA CERCLA authority, not under the TS Lee Stafford Act (ESF-10) response.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

·         EPA, in coordination with NYSDEC, is scheduling the closure of the Owego and Endicott/Endwell (Scarborough Rd) HHW collection sites on 10/15/2011.  These collection areas were scheduled to be closed on 10/9/2011 but due some limited drop-offs by local residents EPA continued to collect materials while resources permitted. Any additional HHW and orphan containers collected will be staged and shipped from the Barlow Staging Pad in Kirkwood.  EPA will be working with DEC to communicate these final closures to the public and begin the transition of HHW Operations to the county operated pad at the Broome County Landfill.  EPA is planning off-site shipments of HHW to begin on 10/17/2011 and continue until all wastes have been disposed.

·         EPA continued to assist residents with mobility issues in the removal of HHW from their property.  Calls are received through the Regional Public Liaison phone number (1-888-BUDSMAN).  To date, 204 calls have been received through this number.  Upon closure of EPA manned sites, and transition of HHW operations to the county and/or state, EPA will coordinate with operating entities for any collection activities as well as communicate planned operations to concerned residents who contact EPA.

CUMULATIVE HAZARDOUS WASTE SUMMARY TABLE – TROPICAL STORM LEE

Below is a summery table indicating the amount of containers collected through HHW and orphan container recovery efforts in response to Tropical Storm Lee.  This data was collected at 1400 on 10/13/2011.  Container counts may include numbers not previously reported from past operational periods.

 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.

EPA REGION 2 COORDINATION ACTIVITIES

EPA Region 2 is currently manning the following coordination centers;

·         EPA Region 2 REOC (Edison, NJ)

·         EPA continues coordinating with the State of New York and FEMA on any logistic issues and/or necessary increases to existing Mission Assignments for Irene and TS Lee NY operations. 

·         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.

SAFETY OFFICER

·         All daily safety messages generated by the Command Safety Officer continue to be posted on the website.  Safety messages were sent out this week on Fall driving hazards, heavy equipment safety, pressure washing, fatigue management, PPE storage, tick awareness and inclement weather. 

·         Household Hazardous Waste collection areas in all Regions of NY and NJ were visited this week and safety inspections were conducted.  Site specific HASPS are located at each of the HHW's and are being implemented. 

·         The Owego Heat & Treat was also visited by the NY ASO to assess the operations on site.  No major issues were observed.

·         The NY ASO accompanied the boat operations crews on three days to assist with boat safety, as well as reconnaissance and orphan container collection activities.  The Boat Safety SOP has being posted on the website

 LIAISON OFFICER

Steve Touw has been designated as the Liaison Officer (LNO) for Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee response efforts.  The LNO continued to communicate with the FEMA Comptroller on the requests for funding increases and project end date extensions to EPA's Hurricane Irene and TS Lee field operations Mission Assignments in NY.  A mission assignment to fund EPA's Tropical Storm Lee support operations at the JFO and REOC was received on 10/11.  An increase to complete EPA's field operations MA for TS Lee was also received on 10/11.

INFORMATION OFFICER

All Community Involvement Coordinators have returned to normal duty stations in New York and New Jersey.  Should additional assistance be required, CICs will re-deploy to the field.  Pat Seppi, 646-369-0068, is the Public Information Officer designated for the response. The following items were addressed and/or completed during this reporting period;

·         PAD, with info from the REOC, responded to a request from Sen. Schumer's office (NY) requesting info about which counties EPA worked in and the possibility of reopening one or more of the collection sites.

·         PAD revised the notice regarding the closure of all HHW Collection facilities in Broome and Tioga counties.  Residents can still bring HHW and electronics to the Broome Cty. Landfill.

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

Liaison Officer, Steve Touw                                                                 908-420-4458

Information Officer, Pat Seppi                                                              646-369-0068

REPORTING SCHEDULE

Situation Reports are generated once a week.

The next Situation Report will be distributed on Thursday October 20, 2011.

SPOT Reports will be distributed upon need.

General Weather for the next Operational Period:

·         Higher chances of rain over the next 10 days, ranging from 30-70 % chance of precipitation.  A few scattered days likely to be sunny to partly cloudy.

·         Temperatures projected to range from the high 30’s to the 70’s depending on operational area.  Most areas expected to be in the 40-50s in the evenings and mornings with temperatures from the high 50s to 70s during the days.

·         Frost warnings in areas of NY may be generated by the National Weather Service for mornings.