United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region 5
Emergency Response
Branch -SE5J
77W.Jackson Blvd
Chicago, IL 60604
Illinois Indiana Michigan
Minnesosta Ohio Wisconsin
Facts about Region 5
Emergency Response
1998
Region 5 Vision: "Together, we can solve environmental problems with communities in common sense ways"
IS
Emergency
The Superfund
Emergency
Response Program
A rovides quick responses
to immediate threats from release of
hazardous materials into the environ-
ment. While the first priority is to
eliminate dangers to the public ~ to
make sites safe for those who live or
work nearby, the Emergency Re-
sponse program also responds to di-
rect threats to the environment which
may seriously impact natural or eco-
nomic resources. Situations requir-
ing emergency response actions
involve the uncontrolled release of
hazardous or toxic materials which in-
clude truck or train accidents with
chemical releases; chemical fires or
explosions; leaking drums and vats,
tire fires and oil spills.
Region 5's Emergency Response program responds to
immediate threats to human health and environment
from hazardous substances releases and oil spills wher-
ever and whenever they occur within Illinois, Indiana,
Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin.
U.S. EPA updates the community of Emergency Response Actions and Cleanup
U.S. EPA Emergency Response Community Involve-
ment staff recognize the importance of keeping the
public informed during emergency response actions.
Community Involvement staff work with local public
officials, the news media, and the public to provide
updated information on dangers and hazards to the
local community, evacuation plans and issues, health
concerns and the status of cleanup efforts.
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U.S. EPA responded to an emergency call for assistance at a tire fire in Traverse City,
Michigan, The fire had started at a tire shredding facility and in-
volved over 500,000 tires, Smoke from the fire could be seen
30 miles away. An elementary school was evacuated and
nearby residents were advised to leave their homes if
smoke became a nuisance. Local authorities
called EPA when conventional fire fighting
methods were ineffective. A federal On
Scene Coordinator (OSC) was dispatched
from the Grosse He office near Detroit
and coordinated with local respond-
ers upon arriving on site. Work-
ing with the local fire com-
mander and volunteer agen-
cies, EPA provided initial
air monitoring and
analytical services to
the community, and
negotiated with
the owner of the
facility who agreed to fund a more extensive response of isolating and extinguishing
the fire. Burning tires produce a thick greasy smoke high in particulate matter and or-
ganic chemicals such as benzene. Each tire also produces about a gallon of oil when
burned, which can contaminate surface waters and groundwater. As the response pro-
ceeded, EPA provided overall project coordination and technical advice to the fire com-
mander. The fire burned for 21 days before response efforts finally extinguished the
flames.
Definition
Example
Actions initiated in a response to
a release or threat of release that
poses a risk to public health or
welfare or the environment, such
that cleanup or stabilization ac-
tions must be initiated within
hours or days after completion of
the preliminary assessment re-
gardless of cost or duration of the
response.
Response to a fire in a chemical
warehouse, oil /chemical spill or
discovery of hazardous chemicals
found in a highly populated area.
Actions initiated in response
to a release or threat of release that
poses a risk to public health or
welfare or the environment, such
that cleanup or stabilization ac-
tions must be initiated within six
months after completion of the
preliminary assessment or action
memo.
Response to an abandoned indus-
trial facility with hazardous ma-
terials in close proximity to sur-
rounding population.
Actions initiated in re-
sponse to a release or threat of
release that poses a risk to public
health or welfare or the environ-
ment, such that initiation of
removal cleanup or stabilization
actions may be delayed for six
months or more after completion
of the preliminary assessment.
Response to an abandoned
industrial dump which is isolated
from public access but poses a
potential threat to ground water.
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' n addition to emergency response actions, the Program conducts "time
critical" removals at hazardous waste sites to eliminate the most serious
, threats and prevent contaminants from spreading off site or into groundwa*
ter. Removal actions typically involve surface cleanups to eliminate the
sources of contamination (leaking drums, vats, tanks, lagoons, etc) and prevent
direct human contact with hazardous substances. Removal actions may also
include securing sites to keep children off contaminated properties, providing
bottled water or alternative water supplies to address contaminated drinking water
sources, temporarily moving residents while cleanup efforts take place, and con-
structine barriers or berms to prevent contamination from spreading. 4»
*—} .a. 1 O
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Emergency Response: Important phone numbers
To Report a Spill, Please call the National
Response Center @ 1-300-424-8802
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
24-hour Emergency Response (217) 782-3637
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
24-hour Emergency Response (317) 241-4336
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
24-hour Emergency Response (800) 292-4706)
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
24-hour Emergency Response (800) 422-0798
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
24-hour Emergency Response (800) 282-9378
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
24-hour Emergency Response (800) 943-0003
The National Response Center (NRC) '
receives emergency calls and forwards
'
U.S. EPA Region 5 has handled the
cleanup of sites ranging from
homes sprayed with methyl par-
athion, a toxic pesticide, to mercury
poisoning, and hazardous waste
spills at plants and on highways.
4 Since 1981, Region 5 has
cleaned up over 500 Emergency
Response/Removal sites
4 Informing the community about
environmental cleanups has been
and will continue to be a priority.
EPA Home Page
www.epa.gov
,S. EPA Region 5
States in Region 5 include; Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. Each state has
environmental agency personnel who respond to environmental emergencies. In addition, Federal On Scene
coordinators are located in Chicago, Illinois, Grosse He, Michigan, Westlake and Cincinnati, Ohio and
Carterville, Illinois. U.S. EPA offices are staffed with environmental engineers, geologists, chemists, and
biologists. They are equipped with response equipment and safety gear. The Emergency Response Team
responsibilities includes obtaining information about the situation, overseeing the cleanup and developing a
site safety plan. They also identify the nearest hospital and evacuation center in the event residents need to be
evacuated.
For further information about the U.S. EPA Region 5
Emergency Response Program: Contact
Ginny Narsete, Community Involvement Coordinator
Emergency Response Branch 77 West Jackson, SE-5J
Chicago IL
1-800-621-8431 Ext 6-4359
Monday - Friday 9:OOAM - 4:OOPM
EPA's goal is to make the responsible
parties clean up their own hazardous
substances. However, in an emergency
situation where human health and en-
vironment is affected and when those
responsible cannot be found, or when
they will not cooperate, EPA responds
' without delay. In an emergency, fund-
ing is provided by the Superfund
(CERCLA) account. The potential re-
sponsible parties will then be required
to pay for any cleanup.
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5 SE 5 J
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago IL, 60604 -3590
First Class
Printed on Recycled Paper
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