United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 Schools & Chemicals: Sometimes They Just Don’t Go Together
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