EPA is continuing emergency removal actions at this site during the repackaging, transportation, and removal of flammable magnesium materials. Magnesium generators, who previously supplied Remacor with recyclable magnesium and magnesium alloys, are removing their materials from the site. Intermet has suspended shipping material until further notice. SPX Contech will be repackaging the remainder of its material in preparation to ship it off site when weather will allow. Hitchcock Industries has been on site to identify their material they will begin removing it when the weather breaks.
EPA’s ERRS contractor Guardian Environmental Services, Inc. (GES) has completed reacting drums from Building #2 and from Building #8 and has started reacting sacks of LimeMag. PADEP is providing technical and oversight support at the site. EPA START contractor TechLaw is providing technical and administrative support to the EPA. EPA and PADEP officials continue to control access to the site in addition to coordinating the activities of the various generators.
Personnel On-Scene:
03/11/08 EPA-1, PADEP-1, START-1, ERRS-8, Security-1 (24 hr)
03/12/08 EPA-2, PADEP-1, START-1, ERRS-8, Security-1 (24 hr)
Weather:
03/11/08 Low of 27° F, high of 38° F. Overcast, 0.00inches of precipitation, wind SW 5-11 mph.
03/12/08 Low of 33° F, high of 38° F. Overcast, 0.00 inches of precipitation, NW 9-12 mph.
03/11/08
U.S.EPA’s OSC Jack Downie mobilized to site for oversight of activities and site entry.
PADEP Mariruth Hoffman mobilized to site and assisted the EPA in oversight of activities. PADEP Hoffman demobilized.
Emergency and Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractor Guardian Environmental, Inc held its morning safety meeting and discussed the days planned activities, areas of concern and safety issues associated with the day’s activities. ERRS continues sacks of lime-mag from Building #2 and #8. ERRS is also reacting various drums that have been found on site. ERRS is taking extra precautions when working the material and continues to wear full face shields with appropriate filters. ERRS has altered the way the drum contents are added to the reaction pit. All operations at the pit area are done with heavy equipment so no personnel are in close proximity in case of explosion or flash fire.
START assisted as needed and conducted written/photographic documentation.
03/12/08
U.S.EPA’s OSC Jack Downie was on site for oversight of activities and site entry. U.S.EPA’s OSC Marjorie Easton mobilized to site and assisted with oversight of activities.
PADEP Mariruth Hoffman mobilized to site and assisted the EPA in oversight of activities. PADEP Hoffman demobilized.
At 2400 hours Fire Chief Dave Allegro responded to the site. The fire department had been alerted by the 911 Center that a citizen reported heavy smoke coming from the reaction pit area. Chief Allegro entered the site where he checked the pit and assessed that it was giving off steam and smoke from the on going reaction. Once Chief Allegro was satisfied that the material posed no threat to the plant or public he exited the site. The assistant fire chief made a follow up inspection later that night. The 24 hour security service guards had been monitoring the reaction pit with the zoom camera through out the evening. Nothing out of the ordinary was noticed. Examination of the recorded video camera footage the next morning indicated that nothing out of the ordinary had occured at the reaction pit.
Emergency and Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractor Guardian Environmental, Inc held its morning safety meeting and discussed the days planned activities, areas of concern and safety issues associated with the day’s activities. ERRS completed reacting drums from Building 8 and drums found around the site. ERRS will start reacting sacks of material from Building #2.
START assisted the EPA as needed and conducted written/photographic documentation
Hitchcock’s contractor MHF plans on being on site to evaluate condition of material to be removed.
No PRP activity is presently occurring on site. All PRP removal action has been suspended by the companies until freezing winter weather conditions subsides. Most of the magnesium drums contain water which is presently frozen.
National Machine Company plans to submit a work/safety plan to the EPA.
EPA will continue to coordinate with magnesium waste generators for the safe and appropriate removal of the material from the site. EPA will continue to coordinate with all local, state, and federal agencies.
Materials located in Building 2 marked as LimeMag are being reacted by ERRS. The material is highly volatile and gives off significant amounts of heat and gasses when reacted with water. ERRS is extra cautious when working with this material.
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