Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Rosebud Reservation Tire Fire
Carter, SD - EPA Region VIII
POLREP #2

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Rosebud Reservation Tire Fire - Removal Polrep
Final Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VIII

Subject:

POLREP #2
Rosebud Reservation Tire Fire

Carter, SD
Latitude: 43.3799747 Longitude: -100.2366829

To:

From:

Kerry Guy, OSC

Date:

10/12/2011

Reporting Period:

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:		Contract Number:
D.O. Number:		Action Memo Date:
Response Authority:	CERCLA	Response Type:	Emergency
Response Lead:	EPA	Incident Category:	Removal Action
NPL Status:	Non NPL	Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:	10/6/2011	Start Date:	10/7/2011
Demob Date:		Completion Date:	10/10/2011
CERCLIS ID:		RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:
FPN#:		Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

Emergency Response

1.1.2 Site Description

Tire Fire

1.1.2.1 Location

The tire fire is adjacent to the RST Landfill, just south of Highway 18, approximately 3 miles west of Carter, SD.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Tire fires commonly produce pyrolytic oils which would affect the land and possibly nearby surface water and ground water. There is also a likelihood of high levels of fine particulate emissions, VOCs, SVOCs, and acrid smoke which could affect landfill workers and nearby residents.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

The initial assessment confirms that the entirety of the tire pile is engaged in the fire. It appears that the pyrolytic oils are being burned as they are being generated, but no sampling or in depth evaluation has been completed at this time.

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative

On Friday, October 7, 2011, EPA met with Tammy Young, the Rosebud Sioux Solid Waste Director, and the Operations Chief, Ed Waggoner, at the Okreek Fire Incident Command Center just east of Mission, SD, in the Rosebud multiuse building. The South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression Division was responding to the Okreek Fire in Mellettte and Todd counties.   Ed provided an aerial of the tire pile on the east side of the Carter Landfill along with a map showing the extent of the Okreek fire.   The Okreek fire had moved in a north direction starting 4 miles due south of the Carter Landfill and had passed through the landfill and then, supported by strong northernly winds, continued north for another 18 miles before being contained.   The fire had averaged about 1.5 miles in width.   EPA reviewed its approach to the tire fire (tire separation followed by soil cover) with operations, which supported the approach.   The operations meteorologist provided EPA response with forecast conditions of weather and wind for the next several days.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
The tire pile fire was completely extinguished just before noon on October 10, 2011. Major response activities started on October 8th and extended through the evening of October 9th. These included digging a 10 to 15 foot wide by 5 foot deep trench along the east and south sides of the 300 foot long by 40 foot wide pile with an excavator; sequentially pushing the top of the pile into the trench and covering with soil, followed by the bottom half of the pile.   At the start of the activities, the pile was observed to be several feet in height, with the top two thirds of the pile having been burned off and likely contributing to pyrolytic material at the base of the pile that was observed to burst into flames when the excavator broke through.    Activities on October 10th consisted of completing the south end of the pile followed by grading and compacting a final lift of soil cover on the site.

Every effort was made to conduct all work up wind of the smoke emanating from the site.   START maintained Multi-Rays gas monitoring equipment in both the excavator and the bulldozer throughout the operation.   Operators kept their cab doors closed with internal circulation on when venturing into the pile and smoke conditions. The gas meters were set to alarm for low O2 levels and for CO2 levels above the TWA (35 ppm).

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

None.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

*Waste Stream*	*Medium*	*Quantity*	*Manifest #*	*Treatment*	*Disposal*

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

Site is complete.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

Fire is out and site is covered.

2.2.2 Issues

2.3 Logistics Section

N/A

2.4 Finance Section