schools & chemicals: sometimes they just don’t go … 6 school responses... · united states...

United StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency

Region 6

Schools & Chemicals: Sometimes They Just Don’t

Go Together

A TALE OFTWO CITIES

Picher, OK

• Closed after 2009 school yearLab abandoned

First thing we saw in the storage room

Total of 258 containers found in storeroom

Following categories identified: Corrosives, Oxidizers, Flammables, Poisons, Miscellaneous and Non Regulated.

No chemicals identified as radioactive or explosives materials.

START hazcatted unlabeled containers

START subcontracted for packaging and disposalTotal: 18 hazardous lab packs, 1 non-haz lab pack

Wabbaseka, AR

School closed after 1996 school year. Abandoned since then.

Earlier this year, the City started demolition of the building

One small room held surprises for workers

Three walls contained shelves of lab chemicals

Collapsed roof hid most of chemical containers

Approximately 270 containers found; 144 had to be hazcatted

Following categories identified: Corrosives, Oxidizers, Flammables, Poisons, Miscellaneous and Non Regulated.

No chemicals identified as radioactive or explosives materials.

Containers were placed in 5 gal buckets based on waste stream

Containers were then overpacked and shipped off for disposal

Hazcat classes held for Quapaw Tribe and various FDs in Arkansas

Hurricane Katrina: School Lab Response

870 Public / Parochial Schools assessed for potential hazards from flooded chemistry labs

Removal of chemicals conducted at 133 Public / Parochial schools in Orleans, Jefferson, and surrounding parishes

Where Not to Put a SchoolExample # 1

October 3, 2011 Fire & explosion at Magnablend Chemical

Facility, in Waxahachie, TX, 35 miles south of Dallas.

Hundreds of totes and drums, as well as several rail cars involved in fire Acetone, sodium hydroxide, choline chloride, methanol, glacial

acetic acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and over 100 other chemicals

Over 1,000,000 gallons of fire water used to extinguish fire

ASPECT and air monitoring used to determine components of plume

A Big Worry on the First Day

Wedgeworth Elementary School

Less than ½ mile from facility

Several hundred students evacuated as precaution

Where Not to Put a SchoolExample # 2

Norphlet Chemical Inc. located in southern Arkansas just outside of Eldorado within city limits of Norphlet, Arkansas.

Population of Norphlet approximately 882, with student population of approximately 500.

Location

NCI incorporated to produce HFC-134a to replace R-12. NCI would sell all product to an Oklahoma company.

NCI obtained investments (≈ $15 M) from private investors located within Eldorado, AR area

Additional funding (≈ $4 M) provided by State Economic Development Commission

NCI Background

NCI began construction of facility in August 2005; completed construction in October; former officers of Company indicate facility always close to insolvency

NCI attempted to obtain AHF from Honeywell. Honeywell conducted site visit and refused to sell to NCI. Potential liability should release occur.

NCI Background (cont’d)

So Where Do You Go To Get HF when all else fails ??

NCI ultimately obtained its AHF from Mexichem Fluora. Foreign company – questionable liability.

NCI began operations in October; operated for 3 months but never produced marketable product.

Facility Picture

7,800 gal AHF

TT13

13,400 gal AHF, TCE

Freons

10,840 gal AHF, TCE

Freons

2,500 gal AHF, HF

Expandable foam

Oh, and did I happen to mention …

Location Area Map

How ???

&

Why Our Interest ??

On a weekly basis, a shelter-in-place or evacuation takes place due to a hazardous materials / oil incident somewhere in Region 6

Since 2006, more release reports to EPA through the

National Response Center have originated from Harris County

(Greater Houston), Texas, than 47 States

It is truly the center of the Chemical Universe !

Region 6 accounts for approximately 40 % of the air releases reported to EPA

nationally through the NRC

What the Map Means

Approximately 440 RMP & FRP facilities have a public / private primary / secondary school within ½ mile

Several hundred more Tier II facilities, not RMP or FRP, with > 10x threshold quantity

These 440 facilities have approximately 700 such schools within ½ mile

Potential Ideas for Future Activities

Outreach to LEPCs / school districts / facilities on need to do emphasized planning, including drills

Regional initiatives for cleaning up / technical assistance to schools