At 12:15 hours on 8/13/14 a report was received from the NRC by staff in the Region II REOC regarding a 250 gallon release of chlorine solution from a swimming pool supply truck at a municipal swimming pool in Tonawanda, NY. The initial report indicated that because of the spill "everyone" was evacuated and that the release was in the storm drains. The Niagara River is approx. 1/3 of a mile away from the point of the release..
Subsequently, OSCs in the REOC contacted both the Tonawanda PD and FD for updates on the situation. Both departments could only confirm that the spill was about 250 gallons and that the evacuation involved only a handful of pool patrons and municipal staff.
The REOC dispatched OSC Mark Bellis, duty-stationed in nearby Buffalo, to the scene. OSC Bellis provided updated information that clarified the situatuation as follows: The pool supply truck was delivering pool disinfectant from a 330-gallon tote. About 70 gallons had been off-loaded into a storage tank when the release occurred from a defective valve on the tote. The solution dripped through the wood floor of the truck and onto the concrete unloading ramp. The solution flowed down the unloading ramp and into the storm drain at the bottom. The driver was splashed with solution and instinctively jumped into the pool. He was uninjured and subsequently drove the truck from the scene.
The local fire department responded and deluged the truck and ramp with water, washing the spill into the storm drain. The Tonawanda Port Authority monitored the sewer outfall and did not detect any elevated levels of chlorine going into the river.
At approximately 1315 hours the fire department secured the scene and departed the area. OSC Bellis reported that some small puddles of residual solution were on the sidewalk and portions of an adjacent lawn had chemical burns.
A One-and-Final POLREP will be issued, and a site ID will be assigned to this PJ response.
