July 2, 2013
Final Draft
RRT-8 Meeting May 1-2, 2013
EPA hosted the Regional Response Team’s twice annual meeting May 1-2 with some 30
participants attending the Denver gathering and several more teleconferencing in on Adobe
Connect from work or response assignments in the field.
Gina Cristiano, EPA’s meeting facilitator and RRT coordinator, outlined the meeting agenda,
stating the organization’s goal was to build relationships among the 15 federal agencies, tribal
authorities and 6 states represented that would enhance coordination between response
partners. Wednesday’s agenda included member updates, a presentation on sub-Area
Contingency Plans, GIS Viewer technology, CDC’s Climate Ready States and Cities Initiative, a
briefing by the Pacific Strike Team and presentations on ER hot-sites, Chevron-Willard Bay, Big
Piney Mercury and the West Creek Tanker Spill. Thursday’s topics included hot-site
presentations on the Parachute Creek Oil Spill and the Eaton Sugar Beet Factory cleanup, Inland
OSROs and a discussion concerning industry involvement in the RRT.
David Ostrander, RRT Co-Chair, said that oil related responses were an increasing percentage of
emergency program work reflecting the industry growth in the Bakken and other Western
states. He spoke about the EPA’s goals to
increase the Ecosystems Protection and
Remediation program’s effectiveness.
Program modifications include geographic
assignments, the update and
reorganization of sub-Area Contingency
Plans, and a program shift in emphasis
away from regulatory and more towards
preparedness planning with a goal of
increasing industry outreach.
The U.S. Coast Guard has updated their six
coastal area contingency plans, reported
Michael Sams, RRT Co-Chair. He said his
organization is dealing with sequestration by cutting back on some planned operations rather
than cutting back on preparedness. “We are fully committed to our regional response teams,”
said Sams.
Agency Updates:
FEMA: Mary Beth Vasco reported that the Regional Response Coordination Center had been
activated for about two weeks. FEMA had been in North Dakota for a month. She said that the
Red River was in flood stage, but recent projections were that it would crest well below record
levels which were predicted to occur earlier in the week. Six counties were declared National
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Disaster Areas on April 29. FEMA had a team in South Dakota for preliminary review following a
severe winter storm that devastated parts of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. This may be
the first test case of the new Stafford Act Amendment allowing federally recognized Tribal
governments the option to seek a federal emergency or major disaster declaration directly from
the President of the United States. FEMA took part in two “shake-out” earthquake exercises
conducted in Salt Lake City April 2012 and April 2013.
DENR-SD: The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources is waiting to
see if the Keystone Pipeline passes all the approval processes for implementation. The project
is fairly popular locally, said RRT rep. Kim McIntosh, though some concerns exist about impacts
to aquifers. DENR has been active in the Silver Jackets Program, a group of federal and state
partners, sponsored by the Army Corps that brings flood mitigation resources on an area wide
basis. They are very active in South Dakota and also in Nebraska. The program brings together
resources and planning groups to look at higher risk areas. DENR has LIDAR, mapping
technology with one meter resolution. Former systems were not as detailed. Ms. McIntosh
brought up a Reuters request for SARA Title 3 data information. Evidently the press association
has requested all states for this information, a matter of some concern to Homeland Security.
Kentucky completed a survey of how many employees each state has to do emergency
response, what their capabilities are and the amount of monies available for response. South
Dakota has averaged 1.5 disaster declarations per year.
DEQ-MT: Montana Department of Environmental Quality reported that major updates have
occurred in the Montana ER program. The governor has formally assigned ESF 10 and 12 to
DEQ (environmental issues and energy). Major training events have occurred and some 250 in
the department are now trained in ICS at the 200 level, will be trained at the 300 level in June,
and a 400 level class is planned for October. This represents a major turn-around in the
organization, said Bonnie Lovelace, DEQ Regulatory Affairs Manager. Next week a major
nuclear (NUWAIX) exercise is occurring in her state. Oil and gas continues to be a big issue in
Montana, although she said Montana’s share of the industry is an order of magnitude less than
North Dakota. As a result of the increased industry activity her department has established an
oil/gas coordinator for Montana.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Preparedness and Emergency
Operations, has undergone a name change to the Office of Emergency Management reflecting
a broader vision of regional support said Lieutenant Commander John Gibbons. Regionally they
are supporting flood response in North Dakota; teams are on alert for response duty.
USFS: Kurt Muenchow of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Department of Agriculture, said that
due to sequestration and budget issues, Forest Service management is looking for ways to
economize, which could affect future RRT representation. USFS has started to focus on some of
the pipeline incidents as related to the aging infrastructure, especially where those lines cross
USFS managed grass lands. A recent internal audit (now distributed to the RRT) recommended,
for all national forest system lands that have oil and/or gas activities, that field units 1) develop
spill response plans and 2) be issued guidance for developing spill response plans. The USFS
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issued a letter to Regional Foresters of regions with oil and gas operations reiterating the
guidance to demonstrate compliance with the recommendations.
DOI: Super Storm Sandy operations tapped out staff; Fish and Wildlife Service were held ready
to deploy boats in the event of need to respond to North Dakota flooding. Robert Stewart of
the Department of Interior noted that although pipeline and trucks are key in transportation,
rail is also a substantial player in the developing oil and gas industry and that Philadelphia
Energy Solutions, the largest oil refiner on the Eastern seaboard, brings in two 30-car trains a
day from North Dakota carrying some 7.2 million gallons. Stewart said the US Geological Survey
has recently revised their estimates doubling oil reserves attributed to the Bakken and Three
Forks formations. DOI has recently been involved in the Willard Bay Oil Spill and also supplied
resources to aid in the Super Storm Sandy National and Cultural Recovery efforts.
CDPHE: The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment are planning an
exercise July 26, Operation Vigilant Guard, which will simulate 3 tornadoes rolling into the
Denver metropolitan area, and practice how State emergency services would respond in
conjunction with the National Guard. The agency is currently reviewing last year’s wildfire
response and attempting to respond to gaps.
UTAH DEQ: Mike Zucker, of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality said that they were
actively involved in the last two shake-out exercises. DEQ stood up during the exercise to test
their internet communication (EOC) systems.
NIOSH: There is a growing representation of the oil and gas industry in the region and the need
to respond to related safety concerns such as exposures to silica, frack fluids. All 12 employees
at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s regional offices at the Federal Center in
Lakewood, to some extent work with the oil and gas industry. The Lakewood office recently
coordinated a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and testified to Congress on fatalities in
this industry, reported Corey Campbell,
National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health.
EPA Preparedness: The Risk Management
Program meets actively to discuss hazardous
materials storage, facility response plans,
provide training and conduct audits of
regulated facilities. Recent trainings include
Hazwoper refreshers and hydrogen sulfide
training for tribal partners. North Dakota has
requested to take over the anhydrous
ammonia inspection program. Kathy Atencio,
EPA Preparedness Unit Chief, said the transfer will require a lot of coordination with HQ and
will be the first delegation for Region 8. The Preparedness Unit has been performing several
Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures in the Bakken area and in Montana. The new
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sites are more compliant, Ms. Atencio noted, while more of the older sites are having some
problems. Farmers are being required to have spill prevention plans in place if they are storing
large quantities of anhydrous ammonia or diesel. Regional Contingency Plans are being revised
to include sub-area plans and, distribution to the RRT for review is expected within the next
couple of months.
Presentations:
Sub-Area Contingency Plans: Maps detailing the initial development of the first three sub-Area
Contingency Plans were reviewed at the meeting. The SACP approach was distributed to the
RRT in March. There are 10 watershed-based boundaries covering the Region. The first three
plans are 25-50% complete and being developed by OSC Steve Merrit-Yellowstone River; OSC
Steven Way-Missouri, Lake Sakakawea and Oahe Basins; and OSCs Kerry Guy and Joyel DhieuxGreen River. Guy said EPA is working with the states and reviewing the 139 FRP facilities in the
area and all major oil pipelines. The goal is to look at potential threats, identify them, identify
sensitive areas and to develop response strategies. Specifically for the Green River SACP, plans
are to protect four endangered fish species, and critical habitats are also part of this review.
GIS Viewer: OSC Marty McComb revealed plans to train ER Phone Duty responders in this
technology to enable the use of real-time information availability for such data needs as
equipment trailer placement, spotting boom locations, ramp staging areas, and railroad and
pipeline information. Data will be available centrally. RRT members will be given access to
most data layers. McComb distributed a form – those interested in Viewer access and
subsequent login instructions were to sign-up.
Classification for Inland OSROs: There are no
USCG Certified Oil Spill Removal Organizations
that originate in R8. This Coast Guard
classification system is used to meet response
preparation requirements for facilities or
vessels regulated by the Oil Pollution Act (OPA)
90. The OSRO Classification Program is a
voluntary program based on core equipment,
boom storage, support equipment, etc.
Entering the available equipment into the USCG
Response Resource Inventory (RRI) database
compares the data against CFR requirements
and provides a classification level. Participating OSROs undergo a preparedness assessment
verification visit on a 3-year cycle which is the primary mechanism for assessing a region’s ER
capabilities.
OSC Steven Merritt and USCG LT Irvin Jones proposed that EPA/USCG create a Memorandum of
Understanding for new Alternative Classification Cities and SSRO Classification in the Region,
leveraging existing infrastructure and USCG experience. Such an agreement would likely
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expand oil spill response capacity and FRP compliance and enable OSCs and USCG to verify
OSRO response capabilities. OSC Steve Merritt said that the MOU would enhance awareness of
NCP response and the provisions in RCP/ACPs among responders and create a rare opportunity
for a win-win situation with industry and response partners.
BRACE: Paul Schramm, Center for Disease Control, presented the center’s program to prepare
for the impacts to human health of climate change. Their program has three major functions:
1) to translate climate change science to inform states, local health departments and
communities; 2) to create decision support tools to build capacity to prepare for climate
change; and 3) to serve as a credible leader in planning for the public health impacts of climate
change. CDC hopes to collaborate with stakeholders such as EPA and NASA along with non
profits, local and state governments to identify
vulnerable populations and to address both current and
emerging health threats.
Pacific Strike Team (PST): Shaun Ross, PST, gave a
capabilities briefing. The Pacific Strike Team has a
national strike force mission to support the USCG, EPA
and Federal On-Scene Coordinators. The team is ICS
210, 300 and 400 capable, can assist in evidence
collection support, offers technical advice, can provide
public affairs and mobile IC support. They offer a variety of expertise including hazmat training,
chemical and biological response capabilities, oil response experience and can measure air
particulate when burning oil in-situ, etc. PST was active in Deepwater Horizon and
Hurricane/Super Storm Sandy responses.
Special Topics/Discussion:
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An impromptu discussion was held on recent National Integration Center changes to
guidelines for credentialing of personnel. Some RRT members expressed concerns over
changes that could remove experience requirements. Further discussion was tabled,
and the topic forwarded to FEMA and will be forwarded to the NRT.
A question as to whether R8 should include industry in RRT meetings resulted in much
discussion. R6 does encourage industry representation; other regions have varied
approach. The May 2013 RRT meeting did include a segment involving industry. During
the topic, “Oil Spill Response Capacity Building – A Case Study on Inland OSRO
Classification in EPA Region 8,” industry representatives were invited. The group
decided further RRT discussion was needed before any proposals would be made to the
group.
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OSC Hot Sites Report Out:
Chevron-Willard Bay: Approximately 485 barrels or 23,700 gallons of oil were lost at this
Chevron Pipeline rupture near Salt Lake City in March of this year. OSCs Curtis Kimbel and Joyel
Dhieux responded to the scene. Kimbel said that within 4 minutes of the pipeline rupture the
valves were shut off, but that they were 23 miles apart. OSC Dhieux said cleanup operations
are nearly complete, but following a hydrostatic test earlier that week, operations were again
shut down. The site is a State-lead site. Groundwater and surface water sampling continues.
The Emergency Response phase of the site is estimated to end mid-to-late June 2013. The site
will remain closed to the public for another three months.
West Creek Tanker: A tanker truck went through a guardrail on January 25 on Hwy. 141 near
Grand Junction, CO, flipped over the guardrail and went down a steep embankment and caught
fire. Approximately 2,000 gallons of diesel were released into the river causing a fire more than
a half-mile down the stream, resulting in a fish kill of at least 500. A flexible pipe was placed
upstream trapping the water flow and allowing enough pressure to flush root balls, the rocky
shoreline and deep eddies of trapped oil. An aeration system was used above collection points
to stop oil from migrating downstream by bringing it to the surface as sheen, ensuring dissolved
phase was not moving downstream.
Big Piney Mercury Spill: OSCs Shun-Ping Chau responded to a mercury spill in Big Piney High
School in Sublette County, Wyoming on February 27, 2013. Mercury that was kept in a glass
bottle in a storage cabinet spilled, contaminating two employees, who washed off the residue
and later attended a pep rally in the school gymnasium. The release was about one cup or 7
lbs. of mercury. Readings at the spill site were 12,000 ng. Due to the school’s vulnerable
population, an active day-care center and several pregnant students and staff, the school was
closed for cleanup. In conjunction with the spill, OSC Ping was able to conduct a public
outreach campaign in the immediate neighborhood, resulting in a doubling of the amount of
mercury for disposal.
Williams Oil Seep: Response to the Parachute Creek Oil Spill preceded the NRC report but the
Agency did not know of the incident for five days after the incident occurred. As of May 1, 144
barrels of liquid hydrocarbon and 6,000 barrels of contaminated groundwater have been
recovered; benzene was detected in the creek on April 22. When OSC Tien Nguyen arrived on
the site on March 15, he noticed the strong sweet aromatic odor typical of hydrocarbon and
immediately called a meeting with the RP, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
and WPX Energy (the landowner). OSC Nguyen verbally ordered site cleanup, under Section
311 of the Clean Water Act, to begin including requirement for WPX to submit written revised
Work Plans with SAP and QAP and to step up H&S measures. The spill site was 50-feet from
Parachute Creek, a tributary of the Colorado River. Daily teleconferences followed. As of
Monday (April 29) the lead agency for responding to the spill was transferred from COGCC to
the RCRA program of the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. EPA continues to
monitor the spill response and provide technical support to the State.
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Eaton Sugar Beet Factory: On a historical perspective, the sugar beet industry came to
Colorado in the early 1900s. The industry crashed in the 1970s leaving sugar beet factories
scattered across the Western states; only a few remain in operation. The Eaton CO plant was
located in the middle of town. Trespassers had broken into the abandoned building, including a
young man who fell to his death. Original mitigation estimates came in at $2.5 million, though
eventually that cost climbed to over $8 million. Every pipe and boiler were covered with
asbestos, asbestos had scattered throughout the building and migrated onto the surrounding
property. Containers of miscellaneous compounds were found in various locations, lime piles
(spent process chemical) lay in the open in surrounding fields of the 43-acre site. Cleaning the
site was long and arduous, requiring much manual labor and workers were required to wear
protective gear and shower afterwards. The building was sealed, a negative pressure created,
with air lock egress and entry.
A discussion followed as to how many other similar sites are out there. According to a recent
R8 survey, there are at least 20 former sugar beet factory sites in the Region, at least four are
stressed or require some attention, some have been demolished, and two sugar beet factories
packed up and moved to Wyoming. Some of the associated sugar silos remain in use and at
least two factories are still in operation.
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