EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Close out of Hurricane Irene actions in the NY DEC Region 4 areas are still pending.  While EPA was prepared to complete land restoration activities at the former Prattsville staging area on 11/14/2011, township representatives indicated that it would not be necessary as the town was planning to use that area for additional / future waste collection efforts.  On 11/17/2011, while working through the close-out process, township representatives indicated that they believed EPA would return in the spring of 2012 to complete the restoration activities, after the township completed its additional waste collection efforts.  At this point in time, the EPA mission assignment expires on 11/18/2011 and does not allow for EPA to conduct restoration activities after that date.  EPA is working with Prattsville township officials to resolve this situation. 

Hurricane Irene actions in the northern regions of NY State, DEC Region 5, continued this week with collection of orphan containers along with the consolidation and packaging of wastes.  EPA has requested a time extension to this mission assignment extending the current 11/18/2011 date into 12/2/2011.  All field collection activities are scheduled to end on 11/18/2011 with only waste packaging and disposal to be completed by 12/2/2011.

Tropical Storm Lee field actions in the NY DEC Region 7 areas, Broome County, have been completed.  All waste has been shipped from all collection areas and all collection areas have been cleaned and inspected.  The only remain action is the demobilization of 1 Conex box from the Barlow Rd facility.  That box is scheduled for pick-up on either 11/18 or 11/21/2011.

CURRENT ISSUES

·         EPA work in some areas is expected to extend past the current mission assignment expiration date of 11/18/2011.  EPA has requested and is currently awaiting approval of an extension to 12/2/2011.  Communication with FEMA indicates that FEMA cannot approve any time extensions until a Continuing Resolution covering government operations past 11/18//2011 is passed.  Without an approved time extension by 11/18/2011, EPA may have to begin the process of demobilizing personnel and equipment from its current operational areas in Northern NY; Essex and Clinton Counties.

LONG TERM ISSUES

·         None to Report

HURRICANE IRENE OPERATIONS (NJ/NY)

NEW JERSEY RESPONSE ACTIONS

All operations were completed with all equipment and personnel demobilized on 11/8/2011.

NEW YORK RESPONSE ACTIONS

NYSDEC Region 4 Area 

Close-out of the Prattsville staging area is still pending.  This is the final “field” action required to complete all operations in the NYSDEC Region 4 areas.  EPA ERRS subcontractor was on site to begin the restoration activities on 11/14/2011 when representatives for the township then indicated they intended to use this area for a future waste collection area and that the restoration activities were not required at that time.  As EPA began the close-out process for this area, the township representatives believed EPA would be back in the spring to complete the restoration work.  EPA informed the township representatives that this is not the current case and that the current mission assignment ends on 11/18/2011.  At this point in time, EPA and the Town of Prattsville are in discussions to attempt to resolve this situation and move to close-out this operational area.

EPA also drafted close-out letters related to former waste collection areas.  Letters have been drafted for the following areas and addressed to the following principals;

·         Executive Director, Montgomery-Otsego-Schoharie Solid Waste Management Authority

·         Chairman, Schoharie County Board of Supervisors

·         Director, Greene County Solid Waste Management Department

·         Director, Solid Waste Division, Delaware County Department of Public Works

NYSDEC Region 5 Area

EPA continued with orphan container collection from debris fields and other impacted areas in NYSDEC Region 5 areas.  Debris field work included operations at Dugway Road, Cold Spring Rd, and Chasm Road.  The Dugway Road debris field was completed on 11/11/2011 with equipment relocated to Cold Spring Road debris field.  Other orphan container collection areas included Au Sable Chasm, Alice Falls, and Wadhams.  EPA also continued with the segregation of waste streams and the consolidation of collected wastes at the Essex County DPW facility.

EPA is currently coordinating with FEMA on the request for a time extension to the current mission assignment.  EPA has requested an extension to12/2/2011, at which time EPA plans to have all operations completed.  Field operations are planned to be completed by 11/18/2011 with only consolidation of wastes and disposal of waste oils, recycling of propane cylinders, and recycling of scrap metals and plastics remaining and projected to be completed by 12/2/2011.

CUMULATIVE HAZARDOUS WASTE SUMMARY TABLE – HURRICANE IRENE

Due to the closing out of this operation, EPA does not anticipate any significant, additional collection of orphan containers going into the next operational period.  The summary table below is the final count for this operation.  This table will be removed from any following situation reports.

TROPICAL STORM LEE (New York ONLY)

NYSDEC Region 7 Area

All EPA field operations related to TS Lee have been completed.  EPA OSC conducted a walk through of the Barlow Rd facility on 11/16/2011.  The only remaining item to address is the removal of 1 Conex box which is scheduled to occur on 11/18 or 11/21/2011. The Barlow Rd facility was the last facility to close out as the Owego facility was completed on 11/10/2011 with the removal of the remaining solid waste roll-off container.

Below are the Waste Disposition Tables for the NYSDEC Region 7 Areas; Barlow Rd, Scarborough Rd, and the Owego Collection Areas. 

CUMULATIVE HAZARDOUS WASTE SUMMARY TABLE – TROPICAL STORM LEE

No additional containers were recorded during the past two reporting periods.  The summary table below is the final count for this operation.  This table will be removed from any following situation reports.

EPA REGION 2 COORDINATION ACTIVITIES

One primary EPA resource has been dedicated for situational updates and documentation.  The liaison officer will remain integrated but on a part-time basis.  Personnel working on approving cost accounting and monetary tracking will also maintain functions in the REOC.

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.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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 Wednesday November 23, 2011.

No additional material at this time.