Beginning on July 09, a slow-moving weather system
brought significant amounts of rain to the State of Vermont. As a result, many
parts of the state experienced catastrophic flooding. On July 11, President Biden approved an
Emergency Declaration for Vermont. The
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assigned EPA mission assignments support
the emergency response. EPA is working
hand in hand with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VTDEC)
on the response.
EPA Region 1 activated its regional emergency
operations center (REOC) and an incident management team (IMT) to oversee the
deployments of EPA staff to the field.
Teams were deployed to conduct damage assessments at drinking water and
waste water facilities as well as releases of oil and hazardous materials and
take response actions as necessary in all counties of the state. EPA has three field teams deployed as part of
this response.
Water and Waste-Water Facilities Group:
The Water Group operations includes contacting and
visiting drinking water and waste water facilities throughout Vermont and
working with their management and local officials to determine their
operational status and need for resources to repair and resume normal
operations.
Hazardous Materials/Oil Assessment and
Response Group:
The operations of the group include public outreach,
ongoing assessment of releases from household and commercial oil tanks, and remediation
of oil releases/recovery of oily wastewater.
EPA and VTDEC are working with local officials, businesses, and
residents to identify areas in need of cleanouts.
Household Hazardous Waste
Household hazardous
waste is considered damaged/unwanted household products, from an incident such
as a flood, that can catch fire, react, or explode under certain circumstances,
or that are corrosive or toxic as household hazardous waste. Products, such as
paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides can contain hazardous
ingredients and require special care when you dispose of them.
EPA set up a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
collection area in Middlesex, VT, at the former Middlesex Police Barracks. Residents and business were able to drop off
flood-related hazardous materials as part of flood cleanout. Collection at this location ran from August 2nd
– 12th.
A total 12 household hazardous waste staging areas
were set up; the main one in Middlesex, and 11 satellite areas located in the
municipalities of Barton, Barre, Berlin, Chelsea, Jeffersonville, Cabot,
Hardwick, Montpelier, South Royalton, and Jamaica.
Additional Recyclable Collection Center
(ARCC) Response Group:
The third field team deployed to the Central Vermont
Solid Waste Management District (CVSWMD) Additional Recyclables Collection
Center (ARCC) facility in Barre, VT. Collection of non-hazardous sediment, has
been completed and is being prepared for transportation and disposal
(T&D). Prior to T&D coordination,
samples of the materials were being taken and analyzed to ensure appropriate
disposal.
