1. USEPA R10 Federal On-Scene Coordinator Third Quarter 2013 Report
Regional Response Team
Northwest Area Committee Meeting
Portland, OR
November 19, 2013

2. USEPA Responses This Quarter
OSU Chem Labs, Corvallis, OR
Finley Sunken Vessel, Tri-Cities, WA
Yakima Pipe Bomb Mercury, Yakima, WA
Tulalip Drums (#1) Tulalip, WA
Tulalip Drums (#2) Tulalip, WA
Warm Springs Central Petro Spill, Warm Springs, OR
Absorbent Technologies, Albany, OR
LeSaint Chemical Logistics, Durkee, OR
9/22/2018

3. OSU Chem Labs Corvallis, OR – July 15
Chronic dangerous storage, handling and safety of lab chemicals in several science labs on OSU campus
EPA response and oversight of OSU removal at request of state and EPA RCRA programs
Substantive changes effected within OSU H&S program and hierarchy to prevent from occurring again
3. Similar problems in the labs have persisted over 20 years, according to Corvallis FD, who have little authority to require changes. OSU had not granted the Chief Risk Office and EH&S the internal authority to inspect, remove, or require appropriate handling and storage of chemicals. Plus, high turnover of grad students and/or tenured professors that were not held accountable exacerbated problem. EPA OSC required OSU to not only finish its planned removal, but to hire additional resources to conduct additional removal activities to abate the public health threat and threat of release. The Chief Risk Officer acted immediately to not only hire the extra resources and conduct an appropriate removal, but was able to obtain the internal system changes needed to prevent this situation from happening again. OSU is hiring 5 new FTE for lab safety and inspections, but are also developing a lab safety audit system.
9/22/2018

4. Finley Sunken Vessel (M/V Forus) Finley (Tri-Cities), WA – July 23
Homeless person living aboard ex-fishing vessel. Vessel sank in middle of navigation channel in Columbia while being moved
Response and removal of oil led by Ecology, funded by EPA via a PRFA; removal by WA DNR Abandoned Vessel Program
Unified Command with Ecology, DNR, Benton County
Daily coordination by USCG
4. Homeless person reportedly obtained the vessel off Craig’s List free, and was in trouble with the marina for non-payment of moorage fees. He was having a friend move the boat to another marina, when the boat sank.
9/22/2018

5. Yakima Pipe Bomb Mercury Response Yakima, WA – Aug. 2
After a pipe bomb containing mercury was detonated by the Tri-Cities Bomb Squad, EPA’s assistance was requested for assessment and cleanup
OSC and contractor mobilized, conducted the assessment, gross mercury removal, and sealed parking lot with a sealant and asphalt
9/22/2018

6. Tulalip Drums (#1) Tulalip, WA – Sept. 3
Abandoned drum with NaOH and corrosive label in vacant lot in Marysville, WA.
Tulalip Tribal Police requested EPA assistance
EPA OSC and contractors mobilized, assessed drum
Drum had weak oxidizer and metal waste
EPA contractor removed, disposed drum
9/22/2018

7. Tulalip Drums (#2) Tulalip, WA – Sept. 12
Multiple abandoned drums with unknown materials in wooded area in Marysville, WA.
Tulalip Tribal Police requested EPA assistance
EPA OSC and contractors mobilized, assessed drums
Drums contained oil wastes, no hazmat
Tribe disposed of drums
9/22/2018

8. Warm Springs Central Petro Spill Warm Springs, OR – September 24
Tanker truck accident, spill of gasoline and diesel on Warm Springs Reservation on U.S. Hwy 26
Immediately adjacent to critical fish habitat
Warm Springs IC, Operations lead by ODEQ
Complete removal and replacement of U.S. 26 and affected soils
9/22/2018

9. Absorbent Technologies* Albany, OR – Oct. 17
After bankruptcy, facility, tank of acrylonitrile (AN) and other hazmat abandoned. Homes nearby.
AN is flammable, corrosive, unstable, carcinogenic, N blanketed.
Two OSCs responded, conducted removal of 4 K gallons of AN after request from Albany FD.
UC with Albany FD/Hazmat 3
Coordinated with County Public Health, Public Works, OR Fire Marshal, Adjoining Business
9. Federal government closed, ODEQ refers site to USEPA. Lack of AN knowledge made for quick study, plan and disposal. Air reactive, polymerizes, exothermic fire, creates HCN at 800 degrees F. AFD preped rereverse 911 Hot wash conducted, all things considered, went very well.
*Removal oversight on going

10. Low income residential property due east, 300 employee (Pacific Cast Parts) due west (24-7).
9/22/2018

11. LeSaint Chem Logistics I-84 Accident Durkee, OR – November 3, 2013
Semi-truck crash on I-84 south of Baker City, OR 12:45 am
17 totes (4400 gal total) of Tetramethylammonium Hydroxide (TMAH), many compromised
Unified Command with ODEQ, ODOT, RP IC
OSC requested assistance from ID State Health District 3, ATSDR critical
Issues
Little published chemical info on TMAH
High pH, cholinesterase inhibitor
Exposures to 5 people with serious health effects
Highway, Railroad closures
Lack of data on TMAH caused challenges in determining best course of action and approach for response and removal, e.g., how to detect and monitor for the chemical, what was appropriate PPE, how to neutralize (some chemists suggested adding a weak acid. Was not used by UC because an acid would create an exothermic reaction and produce another harmful daughter product). EPA consulted manufacturer, distributor, and end user chemists. Distributor sent two personnel from Moses Lake, WA to incident to consult. Issues with exposure to good Samaritans who rescued truck driver. One person still having respiratory problems. Great assistance from Idaho State Helath District 3 and ATSDR ER docs who were able to contact and get appropriate info to Hospital physicians treating exposed young adults. Excellent pooling of regional resources and experienced contractors to mitigate incident.
9/22/2018

12. QUESTIONS?
9/22/2018