U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Old Bassett Warehouse Fire - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region III
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Subject:
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POLREP #4
Progress POLREP
Old Bassett Warehouse Fire
Bassett, VA
Latitude: 36.7689876 Longitude: -80.0033104
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To:
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From:
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Stephanie Wenning, OSC
Myles Bartos, OSC
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Date:
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6/2/2012
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Reporting Period:
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May 9, 2012 to June 2, 2012
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
A3SZ |
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Contract Number: |
EP-S3-12-03 |
D.O. Number: |
1 |
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Action Memo Date: |
4/27/2012 |
Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Time-Critical |
Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
5/9/2012 |
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Start Date: |
5/19/2012 |
Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
VAN000306849 |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
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FPN#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
Time-critical removal action.
1.1.2 Site Description
On November 21, 2011, an arson fire destroyed a 300,000 square foot brick, timber, and steel warehouse building on Trent Hill Drive in Henry County, Virginia. The warehouse, formerly used by the Bassett Furniture Company, was owned by a non-profit entity which used it to store items for distribution to charities. The fire resulted in the collapse of approximately half of the building leaving a debris pile of roughly 5 acres. While investigating the fire, suspected asbestos-containing material (ACM) was identified by local responders. On December 1, 2011, Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VADEM) called the National Response Center (NRC) and reported the findings of potential ACM. EPA responded to the report and VADEM requested assistance with assessing the situation.
1.1.2.1 Location
Bassett, Henry County, Virginia.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Friable asbestos containing materials (ACM) exposed to the environment.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
During the fire investigation, suspected ACM was spotted. Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (VADOLI) mobilized to Site and confirmed, via visual characterization, that there was significant asbestos materials present in the rubble of the building. EPA performed two sampling events, an initial assessment was performed in December 2011 and additional sampling occurred in January 2012. Samples collected during both events at the Site revealed the presence of material containing up to 40 % friable asbestos in the debris located throughout the Site.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
An action memorandum was signed on April 27, 2012 authorizing EPA to begin fund lead removal activities at the Old Bassett Warehouse Fire Site.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
EPA mobilized to the Site on May 8, 2012 to perform a site walkthrough with the Emergency and Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractor. An access agreement for the removal activities was signed the property owner's representative at the Site. VADOLI and Henry County representatives were also onsite to discuss future activities.
Personnel and equipment were mobilized to site beginning on May 9, 2012. Additional site setup including establishing work zones, preparing a site health and safety plan, setting up a command post and other logistics continued until May 19, 2012.
During the week of May 20, 2012, ERRS began establishing an access road through the building footprint. This included segregating steel from debris and creating stockpiles of debris for disposal. Additional excavation was performed in the area suspected to be the fire point of origination in an attempt to recover evidence for the Henry County officials. This search was suspended on May 24, 2012. All work was done in compliance with substantive requirements of NESHAPs and included engineering controls to minimize dust. All hot zone work is being performed in Level C personnel protective equipment (PPE). Personnel and perimeter air samples were collected as well as perimeter real time air monitoring for particulates. Air monitoring results have shown no readings above action levels.
All personnel demobilized from site on May 25, 2012 for the holiday. Site activities including segregating steel from the debris and creating stockpiles for disposal, implementing engineering controls to minimize dust, and collecting personnel as well as perimeter air samples and monitoring resumed on May 30, 2012 and continued through June 2, 2012.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
Resource Exchange Associates has been identified as the owner of the building in question.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
EPA will continue removal activities to mitigate the threat to human health and the environment posed by friable asbestos containing material located on site. Approximately 10 drums with unknown contents were discovered in the debris pile. The drums have been staged and will be sampled to determine their contents and arrange for disposal.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Arrangements will be made for off-site transportation and disposal of the ACM.
2.2.2 Issues
Asbestos falls under a nationally significant or precedent setting issue and EPA headquarters has concurred with the action memorandum.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.4 Finance Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.5 Other Command Staff
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No information available at this time.
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3. Participating Entities
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No information available at this time.
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4. Personnel On Site
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EPA: 1 On Scene Coordinator
ERRS: 1 Response Manager
1 Field Cost Accountant
4 Equipment Operators
4 Cleanup Technicians
1 Truck Driver
START: 1 Environmental Technician
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5. Definition of Terms
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ACM
CERCLA |
Asbestos containing material
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act |
EPA
ERRS |
Environmental Protection Agency
Emergency and Rapid Response Services |
HASP
NESHAPS
OSC
POLREP
PPE
PRP
START |
Health and Safety Plan
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
On-Scene Coordinator
Pollution Report
Personal Protective Equipment
Potentially Responsible Party
Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team
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VADEM
VADEQ
VADOLI |
Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry
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6. Additional sources of information
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
The OSC has established a website at www.epaosc.org/oldbassettwarehousefire.
6.2 Reporting Schedule
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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