POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Minot ND Floods-2011 - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VIII
Progress
Minot ND Floods-2011
Minot, ND
Latitude: 48.2329061 Longitude: -101.3042450
Marty McComb, OSC
| 1. Introduction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1.1 Background |
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1.1.1 Incident Category Stafford Act/CERCLA 1.1.2 Site Description In late June 2011 the Souris River overtopped its banks causing extensive flooding in Ward and McHenry Counties in North Dakota. In Minot, ND over 4000 homes and businesses were inundated with flood waters, with over 2000 structures completely submerged. The nearby towns of Burlington, Sawyer, and Velva were also impacted. FEMA has issued a Mission Assignment to EPA to accomplish four objectives: Remove household hazardous wastes from the impacted area; decontaminate and prepare white goods and e-waste for recycling; collect and process orphan containers; and to conduct environmental monitoring and sampling in impacted and work areas. Initial recon was begun on July 11, 2011. 1.1.2.1 Location Minot, North Dakota Burlington, North Dakota Sawyer, North Dakota Velva, North Dakota Ward County, North Dakota McHenry County, North Dakota 1.1.2.2 Description of Threat Due to extensive flood damage FEMA has tasked EPA to collect and managed household hazardous wastes (HHW), white goods, e-goods, and orphaned haz-mat containers. In addition EPA will be providing air monitoring/sampling support throughout the operational theater. 1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results OSC Peronard, along with a START and ERRS contractor have been conducting reconnaissance since July 11, 2011. As the flood waters have been receding residents have begun cleaning out their homes. For the most part residents have been making an effort to segregate HHW, white goods, and e-goods from other debris. From initial assessment work it would be reasonable to expect 55 gallons of HHW per home, and 1-2 white goods per home. It is difficult to estimate the quantity of e-goods. Orphaned containers (predominantly propane tanks) have been observed strung along the temporary levies, in flooded hedge rows, and underneath river crossings. |
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| 2. Current Activities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2.1 Operations Section | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2.1.1 Narrative 2.1.2 Response Actions to Date The preparation of the staging area for handling HHW, white goods, e-wastes,and orphaned containers is complete. All areas are in service and receiving waste. Preparations for the EPA's base camp (Camp OSP) continue. Camp OSP now has 22 RVs/trailers and houses 50 Site workers. The camp will continure to grow as more ERRS crews arrive, An ERRS electrician has been working with a local contractor to restore the camp power. ERRS personnel have alos been pumping remnant flood waters off of low spots on the property. Prep activities for the camp should be completed by July 22, 2011. When finished the camp should be able to accomodate 40 to 50 RVs, providing housing for up to 120 Site personnel. Three Site recon Teams, lead by OSCs Mccomb and Nattis, began assessing the area for orphaned haz mat containers. Several areas with numerous containers were identified. A link to a website http://react.nvs-inc.com/EPASilver/ contains a visual summary of the recon assessments, as well as other operational data. The recon teams have added the identification of zonolite insulation in the curbside collection areas to their mission. Air monitoring and sampling activities have been expanded accross theMinot area. To date air monitoring has not indicated any issues. A website for displaying air sampling/monitoring results is being constructed by ERT. A map of the sample locations can be found here: http://www.epaosc.org/sites/7093/files/Minot_Air_Monitoring_Locations.pdf The collection of HHW and e-goods by ERRS personnel continues, as does the processing of white goods. The crews are curently collecting materials in Zones 3 & 4 (.http://www.epaosc.org/sites/7093/files/all%20debris%20zones.pdf) Here is a Summary of the quantities of collected material as of 1700 CDT on July 21, 2011:. Total Counts HHW 600 Small Containers (< 5gal)
10 Containers (5-30 gal)
0 Drums (30-85 gal)
0 Tanks (>85 gal)
10 Propane Tanks
10 Other Gas Cylinders
White Goods 27 AC Units
230 Refrigerators
329 Inert Goods
Electonic Goods* 200 Cubic Yards
Other Materials 0 Batteries
0 Fire Extinguishers
17 Light Bulbs
0 Ammunition / Fireworks
0 Small Engines
*based on a visual estimate, a more accurate figure will be tracked as the material is packaged for off-site shipment
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
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2.2 Planning Section |
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities EPA and contractor crew sizes continue to ramp up. It is anticipated that by July 22, 2011 there will be 4 EPA, 4 START, 3 SERAS, and 50 ERRS on-site. 2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities Waste collection activities will continue through the duration of the project. Generally, EPA will coordinate collection activities with the ACoE, working in parrallel with them in each work zone. Recon and air monitoring will continue as well. 2.2.1.2 Next Steps We shall continue on in good style. 2.2.2 Issues There has been an on-going issue with the badging of EPA Contractor Employees. OSC Duc Nguyen, working in the JFO has come up with a solution to supply the needed badges. |
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2.3 Logistics Section |
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NA
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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 NA 2.6 Liaison Officer NA 2.7 Information Officer 2.7.1 Public Information Officer NA 7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator NA |
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| 3. Participating Entities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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3.1 Unified Command NA 3.2 Cooperating Agencies NA |
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| 4. Personnel On Site | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Staffing levels for the current reporting period: EPA 5 R8 START 2 ERRS 39 SERAS 3 R4 START 1 |
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| 5. Definition of Terms | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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NA |
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| 6. Additional sources of information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report NA 6.2 Reporting Schedule NA |
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| 7. Situational Reference Materials | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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NA |
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