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2.1.1 Narrative
EPA OSC arrived on scene around 1830 and met with State OSC Shannon Cline and BP Deputy IC David Sawicki who provided us the 201 Briefing. We joined the entire IMT for a scheduled Status Update Briefing conducted by the Planning Section Chief. Fire had been extinguished by1600. One minor knee injury to an individual during evacuation. All personnel were accounted for.
Operations at the incident scene were halted for night. The area was isolated. Work was to begin during daylight hours for safety concerns.
The IMT stood down around 2300 with only a skeleton crew remaining at the ICP.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
EPA START contractors met with Operations Section Chief and Safety Officer to developed an ambient air monitoring plan. START wrote a Site Specific Sampling Plan.
Four EPA START contractors along with a BP Industrial Hygienist did air monitoring at 9 points around the fenceline perimeter of the facility as well as about a mile north of the facility near a cluster of homes. No readings were found to be above background or any level of concern. EPA checked for Volatile Organic Compounds, particulate matter, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide. EPA took about 2 hours to do the sweep and finished up at midnight. The air monitoring was biased downwind (towards the northwest of the facility). Some points monitored were same locations that BP monitored earlier in the day.
EPA demobilized from the site shortly after midnight.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
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2.5.1 Safety Officer
2.5.2 Liaison Officer
2.5.3 Information Officer
EPA and Washington Department of Ecology issued a joint press release shortly before 2300 hours.
AT the request of the PRP, EPA issued the following press release in the morning with results of the air monitoring.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Feb. 18, 2012 / 12:45p.m.
Contact:
Mark MacIntyre, U.S. EPA media relations; cell, 206-369-7999
Seeing no public health threats, EPA curtails emergency air monitoring
at BP refinery fire site near Bellingham, Washington
SEATTLE – As cleanup begins in earnest at the BP refinery fire site, 20
miles northwest of Bellingham, Washington, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's air monitoring team is standing down after seeing no
measurable threats to public health from airborne pollutants related to
the fire.
As EPA responders arrived at the scene last night, a team of four EPA
contractors, accompanied by a BP Industrial Hygienist, conducted air
monitoring at several locations around the perimeter of the facility,
including locations downwind.
The sweep was completed by midnight and the results were compared to
similar locations that BP responders had monitored earlier in the day.
EPA measured for elevated Volatile Organic Compounds, particulate
matter, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide.
According to Andy Smith, EPA Federal On-Scene Coordinator, "No readings
were found to be above background or demonstrate any level of concern."
Once the site was stabilized and secured, EPA and Department of Ecology
responders completed their assessment and demobilized.
###
Mark A. MacIntyre,
Senior Public Information Officer
U.S. EPA Region 10
1200 Sixth Ave. Suite 900
Seattle, WA 98101-3123
206.553.7302(desk)
206.369.7999(cell)
macintyre.mark@epa.gov
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