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2.1.1 Narrative
EPA mobilized two On-Scene Coordinators, four Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contractors and Regional Readiness Center staff to the Site. The following actions occurred during this reporting period.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
Saturday November 14th
The Lafayette City Fire Department requested EPA assistance at a large warehouse fire in the center of town (NRC Report 1133453 and 1133436). Initial reports from the Fire Chief indicated that there were two 10,000 gallon tanks of oil, one 10,000 gallon tank of a latex product, drums of chemicals and other materials involved. EPA OSC Englert and Personnel from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) arrived on scene late in the evening of November 14th and integrated into Unified Command with the Lafayette Fire Department and City Officials.
OSC Englert served the owner of the building, and a business operating inside the building, Ashgan Products LLC with a notice of federal interest. OSC Englert obtained verbal access from the property owner to go on the property and take samples. Information obtained from the owner of the business indicates that Ashgan Products LLC reclaimed used material from the textile industry and that the building contains large amounts of calcium carbonate, polypropylene chips, polyethylene chips, aluminum sulfate, textile dyes, and polyurethane foam. Additional information obtained from members of Unified Command indicates that the building is an old textile dying facility and may contain additional unknowns left over from textile dying operations.
During the night of November 14, 2015 the fire burned out of control and firefighters worked to suppress the spread of the fire. The above ground storage tanks containing oil were threatened but were not impacted by the fire as firefighters focused efforts on preventing the spread of fire to these tanks.
Representatives from the Georgia Department of Natural
Resources documented that firefighting runoff water impacted a tributary to the
Chattooga River 135 feet (41 meters) from the Site. A fish kill was observed in
the impacted stream. The Natural Resource Trustees were notified.
The responsible party hired environmental clean-up
contractors and constructed hay and earthen reinforced berms to contain firefighting water run-off to
prevent runoff into the Chattooga River. Blue water accumulation was
documented by first responders within a concrete lined structure on the north
end of the Old Barwick Mill building and within a concrete lined substructure under
a neighboring facility to the east across the river, Auto Custom Carpets,
Incorporated.
The response contractor retained by the owner of the Old Barwick
Mill used vacuum tanker trucks to shuttle firefighting runoff water from the
earthen berm area on the Old Barwick Mill property next to the Chattooga River
and transported the water to an additional property located approximately 9
miles to the west in Chickamauga, Georgia off of Highway 341. The
property also contained a concrete-lined substructure that would accommodate
the anticipated large volume of water generated at the Old Barwick Mill
property in LaFayette.
EPA START contactors have mobilized to the Site and deployed VIPER and are performing remote air monitoring. Data RAMs and AreaRAE’s have been deployed at three stationary air monitoring locations and one mobile air monitoring station. The mobile air monitoring station will be used to perform mobile air monitoring in nearby residential neighborhoods.
Sunday November 15th
OSC Carter Williamson has mobilized to the Site to provide additional oversite. On midday November 15th, as previously burning areas of the fire began to smolder, EPA began to observe elevated particulate readings. It is believed these readings were observed due to incomplete combustion occurring in inaccessible smoldering areas of the fire. Due to elevated particulate readings, local officials used reverse 911 and social media to recommend that residents within a 0.5 miles radius to the fire remain indoors. Fire fighters observed a purple dye in firefighting runoff. It is suspected that this is dye left over from textile dying operations which previously took place in the plant. Stationary air monitoring locations have been adjusted to account for changing wind direction. OSC Englert demobilized in the evening of November 15th.
Monday November 16th
LaFayette and assisting fire departments have had difficulty accessing a portion of the smoldering areas due to a fallen roof which is covering smoldering debris. Excavators are being used to clear sections of the roof so that these debris can be accessed. EPA START contractors continue to perform air monitoring with both mobile and stationary air monitoring equipment. Local officials have continue to use reverse 911 and social media to advise residents to remain indoors when high PM2.5 has been observed.
Tuesday November 17th to Thursday November 19th
Due to periodic elevated PM2.5 readings on several occasions since Sunday November 15th to Tuesday November 17th local officials have used reverse 911 and social media to advise residents within a 0.5 mile radius to remain in their homes.
LaFayette Fire fighters continued to battle the fire throughout the night and all day Tuesday November 17th extinguishing almost all of the smoldering debris and pockets of resistance. Air quality monitoring revealed a marked decrease in particulate matter and VOCs were well below action levels. In addition to monitoring for VOCs, CO, H2S and PM2.5; START contractors have performed air monitoring for asbestos.
Asbestos samples were collected near one industrial and three residential locations. Samples were analyzed by phase contrast microscopy (PCM) using NIOSH Method 7400. PCM test for both non-asbestos and asbestos fibers and gives results for total fibers detected. This was done in accordance with OSWER directive 9200.0-68. Total fiber results were well below the residential exposure level of 0.001 f/cc as outlined in OSWER directive 9200.0-68 so no additional asbestos sampling was performed.
EPA, GAEPD, local officials and the responsible parties continue to contend with potentially contaminated runoff from the mill firefighting activities. ATSDR and a Superfund Community Involvement Coordinator deployed to the site and conducted a Public Health Availability Session at the City of LaFayette Library and met with school administrators, local physicians and interviewed with members of the local press. 24 hour air monitoring continued throughout the night to insure that all PM and VOC levels return to pre-event conditions. OSC Williamson demobilized on November 19th. Both the City of LaFayette and GA EPD have requested additional EPA assistance with continued oversite of ongoing cleanup efforts by the owner of the building and business which operated inside the building.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
Enforcement activities have been initiated and are ongoing.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
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