U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Back Bay Hilton Hotel Fire and Release - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region I
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Subject:
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POLREP #1
Final
Back Bay Hilton Hotel Fire and Release
Boston, MA
Latitude: 42.3468847 Longitude: -71.0859858
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To:
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From:
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Elsbeth Hearn, OSC - Environmental Engineer
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Date:
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3/20/2012
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Reporting Period:
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03/13/2012 - 03/20/2012
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
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Contract Number: |
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D.O. Number: |
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Action Memo Date: |
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Response Authority: |
OPA |
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Response Type: |
Emergency |
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Response Lead: |
PRP |
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Incident Category: |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
3/13/2012 |
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Start Date: |
3/13/2012 |
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Demob Date: |
3/14/2012 |
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Completion Date: |
3/14/2012 |
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CERCLIS ID: |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
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FPN#: |
E12102 |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency Response
1.1.2 Site Description
Incident occurred in a garage at 19 Scotia Street, adjacent to the Back Bay Hilton. The garage housed two transformers owned by NSTAR Electric & Gas Corporation.
1.1.2.1 Location
19 Scotia Street in Boston, Massachusetts.
42.345, -71.088
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
EPA responded to initial reports that two transformers containing 19,500 gallons of non-PCB oil were on fire in Boston's Back Bay. News reports stated that thick black smoke was pouring from the building and the Back Bay Hilton Hotel and adjacent buildings had been evacuated.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
EPA OSC arrived on-scene after the fire had been extinguished. An initial survey by the OSC indicated no visible oil on ground, and no visible oil in adjacent storm drains. The building was not cleared by the fire officials for the PRP to enter and do an assessment until 2400 hours. The PRP indicated that a dirt floor basement that acted as a secondary containment for the two transformers was located below the garage. A Notice of Federal Interest (NOFI) was presented to NSTAR at approximately 2230 hrs on 13 March 2012. At approximately 0200 on 14 March 2012, the PRP and MassDEP, after entering into the building, determined that neither of the two transformers had been compromised, but rather a di-electric cable had ruptured and fed the fire. The PRP determined that approximately 1,000 gallons of oil had been released, and most had burned.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
At approximately 1930 hrs on 13 March 2012, the EPA Phone Duty Officer heard a news report about the on-going 3-alarm fire at the Boston Back Bay Hilton Hotel. There were media reports of the thick black smoke, and the potential for a discharge of up to 39,000 gallons of non-PCB oil due to the two transformers involved in the blaze.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
At 2100 hours, EPA OSC Hearn and OSC Burgo arrived at the scene of the Boston Bay Hilton Fire. At this point, the Boston Hilton and some surrounding buildings had been evacuated due to proximity to the fire, and power was shut off to much of the Back Bay area. OSC Burgo demobilized from the scene at 2145.
By 2230 Boston Fire began to demobilize from the scene after having extinguished the fire, and cleared the building for entrance by the PRP (NSTAR Electric & Gas Corporation) to begin reconnaissance activities. Prior to reconnaissance activities, it was anticipated that one of the two 19,500 gallon non-PCB containing transformers that had been feeding the fire had ruptured and the oil had been released into a secondary containment in the basement of the building. However, upon inspection, it was determined that a pressurized di-electric cable had ruptured feeding the fire and released approximately 1,000 gallons of oil into the sub-basement of the facility. The source of the cable (it runs from Brighton, MA) was shut off. The fire had caused extensive damages to parts of the transformers, but they appeared intact. One of the transformers was weeping oil and will be repaired by the PRP. The firefighting foam and water mixed with the oil and was primarily contained within the sub-basement of the facility and the sub-basement of the adjacent facility. It did not appear that there was any discharge of oily water into the storm drains or any conduit leading to a navigable water.
NSTAR hired a clean-up contractor and began pumping operations in the basement. As of 1100 hours on 14 March 2012, it was reported the contractor had pumped 24,000 gallons of water from the sub-basements of the two facilities and anticipated that 15,000 gallons more were to be pumped by the end of the day. The water had a visible oil-sheen on it.
The Boston Public Health Commission requested EPA support in performing air monitoring operations in the Back Bay Hilton Hotel in order to clear for reoccupation. One START Contractor personnel and the OSC accompanied the Boston Public Health Inspector and the MassDEP F.A.S.T Lab operator through each floor of the hotel and provided air monitoring data for use in the re-occupation decision. The air monitoring results did not pose levels of concern, but the hotel has hired a contractor to vent the building.
Bulk samples for asbestos were taken at the scene by local and state personnel. According to state personnel, all except two of these samples came back negative. The two positive samples were from a pipe in the basement that pre-dates the current building. These pipes were not impacted by the fire.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The identified PRP is NSTAR Electric & Gas Corporation.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
| Fire Fighting Water and Foam with Oil |
Water |
40,000 |
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Clean Harbors, PRP Contractor |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Response activities are complete.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
None after 14 March 2012
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Response activities are complete.
2.2.2 Issues
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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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2.5.1 Safety Officer
2.5.2 Liaison Officer
2.5.3 Information Officer
EPA Public Affairs was notified of the response actions by EPA and is coordinating accordingly.
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
The commanding Fire Chief was the Incident Commander throughout fire fighting activities. Once the fire was extinguished and the extent of the release determined, unified command was passed over to the PRP and state and local officials.
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Boston Fire, Boston HAZMAT, NSTAR Electric and Gas (PRP), Boston Public Health Commission, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of the Mayor,
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4. Personnel On Site
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OSC Hearn and OSC Burgo
START Personnel (1)
MassDEP responders Zachary Peters and Albe Simenas
MassDEP F.A.S.T Lab operator John Fitzgerald
Boston Public Health Commission responders Jack Tracy and Leon Bethune
NSTAR responders and NSTAR Principal Environmental Engineer, Daniel Watton
Veolia Engineers (their steam facility was in the adjacent building)
Boston Fire, Boston Police, and Boston HAZMAT
Office of the Mayor
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5. Definition of Terms
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MassDEP - Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
F.A.S.T Lab - Field Assessment and Support Team (MassDEP's mobile laboratory)
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6. Additional sources of information
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No information available at this time.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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