EPA Region 8
Preparedness Unit
April 2012
Inside this issue:
TR1 National A nalysis Pg. 2
Landfill Radiation Test Pg. 3
Hydrofracking Ban on Reser-
vaationPg. 4
Colorado Fracking Rules Pg. 5
UP Railroad Settlement, Oil Reg
Workshop Pg 6
Turtle Mountain Spill Drill Pg 7
Vol. II No. 2 Planning, Prevention, and Preparedness Newsletter
Anhydrous Ammonia: Theft and Chemical Safety
As the time approaches for preparing fields, it is also un-
fortunately, the time for anhydrous ammonia thefts to in-
crease as thieves obtain this methamphetamine manufac-
turing ingredient. Region8 states being agriculture focused
makes this topic particularly important to our industry,
farmers, and First Responders. Agricultural purpose anhy-
drous ammonia (NH3) can be as inexpensive as $200 a ton, but, when obtained illegally, it can
sell for as much as $300 per gallon on the black market. Drug makers use NH3 for illegal
manufacturing of methamphetamine. A large quantity of meth can be manufactured with less
than 10 gallons of anhydrous ammonia.
Thefts are often aborted when thieves are injured or overcome by the toxic gas. During these
aborted attempts, "tools" are often left behind, such as duct tape, inner tubes, buckets, coolers,
and/or propane bottles from barbeque grills. Several states have passed legislation making it a felony to tamper with or
steal anhydrous ammonia, or hold the substance in a non-approved container.
Victims of anhydrous ammonia theft may not realize a theft has occurred because the amount of material stolen is rela-
tively small compared to the overall volume of a tank. Evidence of tampering with tank valves or the presence of items
left behind by thieves are ways that you may know a theft has occurred. These include:
Partially opened tank valves and/or leaking tanks.
Buckets, coolers, duct tape, garden hoses and bicycle inner tubes.
Empty containers around tanks, especially small barbeque tanks, the valves of which may be compromised and dan-
gerous to handle.
Ring marks from propane cylinders put on the ground.
The presence of unfamiliar or suspicious-looking individuals during daylight hours (thieves often scout the property
beforehand).
Consider the following procedures to protect your NH3-supply from theft:
Obtain locking devices for nurse tank valves.
If you hold multiple tanks for an extended period of time, visit with rural law enforcement about the location and
amounts of anhydrous ammonia.
Ensure that tanks are placed in lighted, secure areas. If possible, place tanks where they can be seen from the resi-
dence and where the flow valves face either the drive lane or residence.
Bleed and remove hoses to remove excess liquid. This small amount can be enough to pro-
duce meth.
Check tanks frequently since unattended tanks are often targeted. Block road lanes or en-
trances near the tank with a gate or barricade to complicate theft of the entire tank.
Post "No Trespassing" signs and label tanks with caution labels to warn of the highly hazard-
ous nature of anhydrous ammonia and to reduce your liability should an injury occur during
theft.
Place brightly colored plastic wire ties or seals between the valve wheel and the roll cage to
facilitate quick visual checks for tampering. A broken tie or seal likely indicates tampering.
Do not confront suspicious individuals near your tank. Call the police, because users of meth
may become violent with little provocation. • Colorado
Partner Corner
• More localized info?
Check out these
sites.
• Montana
• Wyoming
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Utah
Taking a few simple steps and being a little more vigilant about where and when anhydrous tanks • Denver
-------
Planning, Prevention, and Preparedness Newsletter
April 2012
are stored may prevent your NH3 supply from being used by meth labs in a drug wave that is impacting your commu-
nity. Pay attention to signs of tampering with tanks to prevent a serious accident with your family, employees or
neighbors, or a first responder's attempt to approach a tank.
Attempted Ammonia Theft (From WCFCourier. com)
HAWKEYE, Iowa (AP) - A 36-year-old Arlington man has been arrested, accused of trying to
steal anhydrous ammonia from a tank near Hawkeye in northeastern Iowa.
The incident began after a sheriff s deputy encountered a man about 9 a.m. allegedly stealing
the chemical from a tank that belongs to Fredericksburg Farmers Cooperative. The deputy who
came upon the scene was overcome by fumes from the leaking tank. She was taken to a hospi-
tal, treated and later released. The deputy was exposed to anhydrous ammonia and was released from the hospital later
in the day, according to officials. The man has been charged with possession of anhydrous ammonia with intent to
manufacture methamphetamine and with criminal mischief.
The incident happened on County Road Wl4 about a half mile north of Hawkeye, and the sheriffs office and firefight-
ers from Hawkeye closed roads leading up to the co-op's plant. Chief Deputy James Davis said officials were able to
reopen the roads early in the afternoon. The Iowa State Patrol and Northeast Iowa Ambulance assisted at the scene,
and the Linn County Hazardous Materials team also responded. The leak was contained around l p.m., according to
the sheriffs office. Randy Frank, coordinator of the Fayette County Emergency Management Agency, said crews shut
the tank's valve and then cleaned up the chemical.
Anhydrous ammonia is a colorless, nonflammable liquefied gas that when released can form a low-lying cloud. Its
odor is similar to household ammonia. Exposure can cause freeze and chemical burns on skin and damage to lungs.
The farm chemical is used as a fertilizer but is also an ingredient in the illegal production of methamphetamine.
Kelsey Williams grew up about a mile south of the tank opened Wednesday, and her parents and sister still live
nearby. Though the sheriffs office did not order an evacuation, the family left town when they smelled the pungent
odor. "A lot might hurt you, but a little can't be good either," Williams said. She remembers other leaks in the past also
were attributed to thieves.
"I don't know that I understood the danger level as a kid as much, but it is kind of disconcerting growing up right next
to it because it can cause long-term damage," she said.
March 4, 2012 Anhydrous Ammonia Stolen (From The Decor ah Newspapers)
(Iowa) The Winneshiek County Iowa Sheriffs Department is investigating a recent anhydrous ammonia theft from a
farm in Frankville Township.
Residents with anhydrous ammonia are asked to check their storage tanks for signs of tampering or theft. If anyone
finds or suspects that their tanks have been tampered with they are advised to contact the Winneshiek County Sheriffs
Department so that evidence can be collected to further the ongoing investigation.
February 22, 2012 Two Arrested After Attempted Anhydrous Theft, Chase (From thexradio.com)
(Illinois) Two people were arrested Tuesday evening after an alleged attempted theft of anhydrous ammonia at a plant
in Shelby County and a chase in Effingham County. The sheriff said The two suspects were each arrested on counts of
possession of anhydrous ammonia with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, as well as driving on a revoked li-
cense and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer.
EPA Releases 2010 Toxics Release Inventory National Analysis
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing its annual national analysis of the Toxics Release In-
ventory (TRI), providing all Americans with vital information about their communities. The TRI program publishes
information on toxic chemical disposals and other releases into the air, land and water, as well as information on waste
management and pollution prevention activities in neighborhoods across the country. Total releases including dispos-
als for the latest reporting year, 2010, are higher than the previous two years but lower than 2007 and prior year totals.
Many of the releases from TRI facilities are regulated under various EPA programs and requirements designed to limit
human and environmental harm.
"We will continue to put accessible, meaningful information in the hands of the American people. Widespread public
access to environmental information is fundamental to the work EPA does every day," said EPA Administrator Lisa P.
Jackson. "TRI is a cornerstone of EPA's community-right-to-know programs and has played a significant role in pro-
Page 2
-------
Planning, Prevention, and Preparedness Newsletter
April 2012
tecting people's health and the environment by providing communities with valuable information on toxic chemical
releases."
Citizens have a right-to-know what toxic chemicals are being released into their communities. Over the past 25 years,
the TRI program has helped citizens, emergency planners, public health officials, and others protect human health and
the environment by providing them with toxic chemical release and other waste management data they need to make
decisions that affect the safety and welfare of their communities.
The 2010 TRI data show that 3.93 billion pounds of toxic chemicals were released into the environment nationwide, a
16 percent increase from 2009. The increase is mainly due to changes in the metal mining sector, which typically in-
volves large facilities handling large volumes of material. In this sector, even a small change in the chemical composi-
tion of the ore being mined ~ which EPA understands is one of the reasons for the increase in total reported releases ~
may lead to big changes in the amount of toxic chemicals reported nationally. Several other sectors also reported in-
creases in toxic releases in 2010, including the chemical and primary metals industries.
Total air releases decreased 6 percent since 2009, continuing a trend seen over the past several years. Releases into
surface water increased 9 percent and releases into land increased 28 percent since 2009, again due primarily to the
metal mining sector.
EPA has improved this year's TRI national analysis report by adding new information on facility efforts to reduce pol-
lution and by considering whether economic factors could have affected the TRI data. With this report and EPA's Web
-based TRI tools, citizens can access information about the toxic chemical releases into the air, water, and land that
occur locally. Finally, EPA's first mobile application for accessing TRI data, myRTK, is now available in Spanish, as
are expanded Spanish translations of national analysis documents and Web pages.
TRI data is submitted annually to EPA and states by multiple industry sectors including manufacturing, metal mining,
electric utilities, and commercial hazardous waste facilities. Facilities must report their toxic chemical releases to EPA
under the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) by luly 1st of each year. The
Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 also requires information on waste management activities related to TRI chemicals.
More on the 2010 TRI analysis and TRI Web-based tools: http://www.epa.gov/tri
More on myRTK: http://www.epa.gov/tri/mvrtk/
Multiple Samples Fail Radiation Test at Landfill From Williston Herald
City of Williston employees held a meeting Tuesday night to outline what is and is not allowed in the landfill, but the
topic of radioactive materials dominated the question and answer session.
Through Test America, an independent company, the landfill had various samples tested for radiation. The North Da-
kota Department of Health restricts landfills from accepting materials that read above 5 picocuries per gram, and many
samples exceeded that amount significantly. A picocurie is a measurement of radiation.
The samples were gathered from loads of oil industry waste that were rejected by the landfill. The samples were tested
for radium 226, radium 228 and lead 210, all of which are naturally occurring radioactive materials, or NORM. Al-
though the specific brands of samples were not identified, it was noted that filter socks and frac sand bags are typically
"hot," or testing positive for radiation. Filter socks and frac sand are both widely used in the North Dakota oil patch.
One sample, a filter sock, contained 45.10 picocuries per gram of radium. The highest read on a frac sand bag was
20.30 picocuries per gram of radium. The sand bag also had 9.67 picocuries per gram of lead 210. "How is this getting
into this country?" asked Rich Vestal, President of Red River Supply Company.
Made in China
The frac sand bags normally contain proppant, a type of ceramic sand used in the oil well fracking process. Multiple
people at the meeting stated that a large amount of man made proppant comes from China, and that material registers
as radioactive.
Next to the BNSF Train Depot on Tuesday afternoon, dozens of frac sand bags were stacked on a deck and the ground.
Each bag is stamped: "Made in China." Currently, it is unknown whether or not these specific bags, full of proppant,
are radioactive. However, Monte Meiers, Director of Public Works and Engineering, says the bags stacked at the train
depot are "of concern."
Page 3
-------
Planning, Prevention, and Preparedness Newsletter
April 2012
City officials decided to send off the samples after rejecting many dump loads due to high reads on a Geiger counter,
an instrument used to detect radiation. A total of 23 loads have been rejected since June, 2011. City officials said they
do not know what companies do with rejected dump loads. The City is working on a proposal that will stop companies
from attempting to dump hazardous materials in the landfill.
Brad Septka, foreman of the Williston Landfill, stated that even city trucks have had unacceptable reads on the Geiger
counter. He said this could be because companies are throwing waste into municipal dumpsters.
The effect these radioactive measurements could have on human health is still unknown. (Ingram, Dustin "Multiple Sam-
ples Fail Radiation Test at Landfill." Williston Herald 18 Jan 20112, retrieved from http://www.willistonlierald.com/news/multiple
-samples-fail-radiation-test-at-landfill/article 58426dcc-41f7-llel-aba7-001871e3ce6c.html)
Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in North Dakota Bans Hydraulic Fracturing on Reservation
The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa has banned a contentious oil and gas recovery technique and wants to stop a
federal auction that would open drilling on the north central North Dakota reservation.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs' (BIA) Dec. 14 lease sale for 45,000 acres in Rolette County is outside North Dakota's
existing oil patch. State records show no oil has ever been produced in the county, but some tribal members believe
advanced horizontal drilling techniques and hydraulic fracturing could spur development on Indian land and threaten
water sources.
Eight council members representing the 30,000-member tribe unanimously passed a resolution that would forbid hy-
draulic fracturing on tribal land, which incorporates much of the county. The council later amended the resolution ask-
ing that the BIA halt its planned lease auction.
The BIA continued to advertise the lease sale on Friday. "We have not received any official notice from the tribe re-
garding this matter," agency spokeswoman Nedra Darling said in an email.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a process that uses pressurized water, chemicals and grit to break open oil and gas
bearing rock up to two miles underground. The technique is credited with allowing the development of the rich Bakken
shale and Three Forks formations in western North Dakota. In other states, it's been blamed for endangering water
quality.
More than 500 tribal members have joined a group "No Fracking Way Turtle Mountain" to ban oil development on
the reservation, said Cedar Gillette, a spokeswoman for the group. "We believe fracking comes at too much of an envi-
ronmental cost," she said.
North Dakota has never had a case of hydraulic fracturing damaging water supplies, said Dave Glatt, the director of the
state Health Department's environmental health section.
More than half of the reservation's 6,000 residents live in poverty, said Christa Monette, a tribal member. Oil develop-
ment could bring in much-needed jobs to the reservation but at a cost, she said. "It's not that we don't want economic
development because we do - we just don't want our environment harmed," she said. "I'm not a tree-hugger. I just live
here. This is my home."
State geologist Ed Murphy said the rich Bakken and Three Forks extend into Rolette County, but contain only a frac-
tion of the oil-bearing rock there that the formations hold in the western part of North Dakota.
"Rolette County is 60 miles east of where we think the Bakken and Three Forks is capable of generating oil," Murphy
said. The closest producing oil wells to the county are 17 miles to the north in Canada and 30 miles to the west in
neighboring Bottineau County, Murphy said. Those wells are aimed at a shallower formations and likely use tradi-
tional vertical drilling technology that does not require hydraulic fracturing, he said.
Stephan Nordeng, a Department of Mineral Resources geologist, said oil companies drilled test wells in Rolette
County years ago with no success. "They came up with quite a number of dry holes," he said.
"There's nothing out there right now," Nordeng said of the prospect of oil in Rolette County. "But there is always
somebody willing to gamble a little bit, because that's what they would be doing."
Ron Ness, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, said the tribe's fears over hydraulic fracturing are un-
founded. Ness, whose group represents more than 200 companies working in North Dakota's oil patch, said he doubted
if the BIA's federal lease sale would have garnered much interest anyway. The tribe's ban on hydraulic fracturing "puts
them off-limits," he said.
Page 4
-------
Planning, Prevention, and Preparedness Newsletter
April 2012
About 100 miles southwest of the Turtle Mountain Reservation is the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in west-central
North Dakota, home to the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara tribes, known as the Three Affiliated Tribes. The tribes'
chairman, Tex Hall, said oil has brought promise but also problems to the reservation, which is home to half of the
tribes' 12,000 members.
A tax agreement between the state and the tribes that began in July 2008 has generated $66 million in oil tax revenue
for the state and $31 million for the tribes, state Tax Department records show. The tribes also have collected more
than $182 million in lease payments from oil companies for rights to drill on tribal land. Unemployment has dropped
from 50 percent on the reservation to about 25 percent with plentiful jobs in the oil patch and support industries, Hall
said. At the same time, the influx of cash has spurred more crime, traffic, alcoholism and drug use, he said.
Carol Davis, a Turtle Mountain tribal elder, said she was proud of her tribe for banning hydraulic fracturing on the res-
ervation. "The tribe saw the potential for disaster and is really taking a bold stand," she said.
Davis said she has relatives on the Fort Berthold reservation who have reaped financial benefits from oil development
there. "I'm basically telling my relatives to put that money in the bank, because they will be buying water from us," she
said.
New Colorado Fracking Rules
On December 13, 2011, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission unanimously approved new hydraulic
fracturing chemical disclosure rules that will go into effect April 1, 2012. The nine-member Commission worked with
industry and environmental groups on crafting the rules. Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper credited all of the
parties involved, saying, "These new rules give Colorado the fairest and most transparent set of fracking regulations in
the country and will likely serve as a model for other states." Both industry and environmentalists have praise for the
rule:
• Tisha Schuller, President & CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association -"We have gained a model process to
bring together industry, environmental advocates, and regulators to ensure energy development continues in keep-
ing with protecting the environmental resources of our state."
• Michael Freeman, a staff attorney with Earthjustice, which represented environmental groups in negotiations -
"Overall, we are pleased with the strength of this rule... While all sides made compromises in the rulemaking, the
requirement for disclosure of all chemicals and concentrations in fracking fluids makes Colorado a leader in state
disclosure policy."
Hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," injects pressurized fluid underground to fracture rock layers to enable the extrac-
tion of fossil fuels. Fracking raises environmental, health, and safety concerns, but Colorado's rule will address these
issues with a comprehensive and industry-supported approach. Whereas some states only require certain fracking
chemicals to be reported, Colorado will require companies to report all chemicals used in fracking and their concentra-
tions. The rule, however, will not require reporting of how fracking chemicals are combined in the extractive process.
Companies must make their reports on an independent public website, www.FracFocus.org. within sixty days of com-
pleting fracking activity. Trade secrets will remain protected by federal and state laws, but regulators and health care
professionals may request confidential information about fracking processes, and companies must file an affidavit that
their confidential information meets legal definitions. Overall, the rule reflects an on-going collaboration of state regu-
lators, industry, and environmental groups and sets an increased standard for transparency. "New Colorado Fracking Rule
Seen as Model For Other States " Center for Climate and Energy Solutions Retrie\>ed from httv://www. c2es. org/us-states-
regions/news/2011/12/new-colorado-fracking-rule-seen-model-other-states
Hazmat Spill at Monterey Hotel Sends 30 to Hospital (From KTVU.com)
A Monterey California hotel employee who accidentally mixed together two chemicals caused a hazardous materials
incident Monday morning that sent 30 people to the hospital and prompted the evacuation of hundreds of guests, a city
spokeswoman said. At about 9:15 a.m., the Monterey Fire Department received a call reporting a hazardous materials
incident in the basement of the Portola Hotel, located at 2 Portola Plaza, Monterey city spokeswoman Anne McGrath
said.
The incident occurred in or near a barrel in the laundry room, where employees were working. Thirty employees were
taken to various hospitals in the area. One guest requested to be evaluated as a precautionary measure prior to his
flight, McGrath said.
Page 5
-------
Planning, Prevention, and Preparedness Newsletter
April 2012
Most of the people who were transported reported experiencing respiratory problems. All 210 hotel guests were evacu-
ated, along with five or six employees at the adjacent Monterey Conference Center. No conferences were in progress
at the time. The hotel was closed as of 4:15 p.m. but McGrath said it would reopen as soon as the county hazardous
materials team removed the barrel from the laundry room. The release of chlorine gas was caused by an employee
who mixed together acid and bleach, McGrath said.
Union Pacific Railroad Company to pay $1.5 million for Clean Water Act violations
in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with Union Pacific Railroad
Company regarding alleged violations of the Clean Water Act and the Oil Pollution Act. This
settlement resolves a Clean Water Act enforcement action against Union Pacific that involves
continuing operations at 20 rail yards in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, as well as spills of oil
and coal in 2003 and 2004 along railroad lines in all three states.
For the rail yards, EPA alleges Union Pacific violated EPA's Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC)
and Facility Response Plan (FRP) regulations. These regulations are the first line of defense for preventing oil spills
and providing immediate containment measures when an oil spill does occur. "Today we have secured a settlement
that will help prevent spills, protect water quality, and improve the safety of Union Pacific's operations in 20 commu-
nities across Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming," said Jim Martin, EPA regional administrator. "Union Pacific has already
begun putting necessary measures in place and we will ensure they continue to do so."
As part of the settlement, Union Pacific will pay a civil penalty of $1.5 million of which approximately $1.4 million
will be deposited into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, a fund used by federal agencies to respond to oil spills. The
remaining $100,000 will be deposited in the U.S. Treasury for the coal spills and storm water violations. In addition,
the settlement requires the company to develop a management and reporting system to ensure compliance with SPCC
regulations, FRP regulations, and storm water requirements at 20 rail yards in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. Union
Pacific must take further actions to control storm water runoff at the Burnham Rail Yard in Denver, which are antici-
pated to prevent the discharge of approximately 2,500 pounds of chemical oxygen demand, 50 pounds of nitrate,
11,000 pounds of total suspended solids, and 30 pounds of zinc annually to waters in the Denver area.
This settlement will benefit several communities in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, many of which are disadvantaged,
by requiring Union Pacific to install secondary containment to safely store oil and prevent oil spills from leaving its
properties. Further, it will require the company to designate an environmental vice-president responsible for complying
with oil spill prevention and storm water control requirements at the 20 railyards. The majority of the 20 locations
cited in the settlement are in disadvantaged areas with significant low-income and/ or minority populations.
The complaint alleges the following violations:
• Six oil spills in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming
• Three coal spills in Colorado
• Inadequate SPCC plans and/or inadequate SPCC plan implementation (e.g., inadequate secondary containment)
at the following 20 rail yards:
• Denver 36th Street, Burnham, Denver North, East Portal Moffatt Tunnel, Grand Junction, Kremmling,
Pueblo, and Rifle, all in Colorado
• Helper, Ogden, Provo, Roper, Salt Lake City North, and Summit, all in Utah
• Six rail yards in Utah failed to provide certifications and reports for storm water pollution prevention
plans (SWPPPs) as required by the Utah Multi-Sector General Permit.
• Bill, Buford, Cheyenne, Green River, Laramie, and Rawlins, all in Wyoming
• Rawlins, Wyoming: rail yard had an inadequate FRP and failed a Government Initiated Unannounced
Exercise
For more information on the Clean Water Act, visit EPA's compliance web page: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/
civil/cwa/index.html. For more information on Environmental Justice within EPA Region 8 please visit: http://
www.epa.gov/region8/ei/index.html
Oil Regulations Workshop Announcement
In May 2012 EPA's Oil Program staff will conduct two free workshops on the oil pollution regulations and the require-
ments for a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan. SPCC plans must be prepared and imple-
Page 6
-------
Planning, Prevention, and Preparedness Newsletter
April 2012
mented by facilities which store, process, transfer, distribute, use, consume, drill, produce, gather, or refine oil or oil
products. The term ""oil" is defined as petroleum oils, including gasoline, asphalt, kerosene, motor oil, etc.; animal and
fish oils; vegetable oils; synthetic oils; and any other kind of oil.
The workshops will be held on May 1, 2012 from 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM & on May 1, 2012 from 1:00 PM until 4:00
PM. Each workshop will cover the requirements for oil and gas production and non-production facilities subject to
the SPCC rule, and an update on the status of EPA's revisions to the regulatory requirements for subject facilities. The
workshops are identical. These workshops are free of charge, but you must register to attend. Both workshops will
be held at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality/Division of Water Quality 195 North 1950 West 1st Floor
Salt Lake City, UT 84116.
If you would like to register for one of the SPCC workshops, you may complete the online registration form or call
303-312-6801 with your name, the name of your organization, your organization's address, and your daytime phone
number.
These workshops will be limited to the first 100 registrants because of space limitations.
Handouts, some of which were available at previous workshops, are found below (Note: all are PDF documents; about
PDF files):
Tier I Qualified Facility SPCC Plan Template
2010 Cross-Reference Matrix for Production Facilities
2010 Cross-Reference Matrix for Non-Production Facilities
Do I Need an SPCC Plan?
Substantial Harm Certification Statement
Cross-Reference Matrix for Drilling and Workover Facilities
Qualified Facility Self-Certification
40 CFR Part 112: Oil Pollution Prevention
Small Business Resources Information Sheet
We encourage workshop participants to review the handouts online prior to attending a workshop. Additional informa-
tion is available on the EPA Region 8 Oil Program Web site.
Training and Exercises
Our new Training and Exercise (T&E) schedule is now available. EPA Region 8 is always willing to assist and partici-
pate in exercises that have a component related to our responsibilities - chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or
explosive (CBRNE) events, as well as oil and hazardous materials incidents. To access our 2012 Training and Exercise
schedule, please click here: EPA Region8 Training and Exercises.
Please contact Luke Chavez (email: chavez.luke@epa.gov. phone: 320-312-6512) - Exercise Coordinator if you have
any questions regarding EPA Region 8 T&E or have an exercise that we may assist you in.
Turtle Mountain Tribe Prepares for a Chemical Spill (By Luke Chavez)
As I was standing in the frigid cold evaluating first responders scurrying to help
accident victims, I was told by our host, Ray Reed with the Turtle Mountain En-
vironmental Protection Agency, that it was a beautiful day in Belcourt, ND, for
an exercise. Belcourt is located just over ten miles from the Canadian border in
the north central part of North Dakota. The twenty degree temperature, cloudy
skies and piercing wind was the scene for a Turtle Mountain Tribe drill on
March 9, 2012. To the people of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indi-
ans, it was a nice winter day to exercise their local response and school preparedness capabilities for a chemical spill.
Russ Nelson, START contractor (URS Operating Services) and I, Luke Chavez (EPA Region 8), were more than en-
thusiastic to participate in the Turtle Mountain Tribe Full Scale Exercise (FSE). The Region jumped at the invitation
and found the exercise to be a great opportunity to work with the local Tribe and to help evaluate their response capa-
bilities and their plans to address a chemical release. The scenario had two anhydrous ammonia tanks, each with 1,000
gallons, fully releasing their contents due to an automobile accident near the tribal high school, middle school and ele-
mentary school. The Tribe exercised and tested four different objectives:
Page 7
-------
Planning, Prevention, and Preparedness Newsletter April 2012
• Test proficiency of school district phone tree and individual K - 12 administrator responsibilities for sheltering
students in place, safely managing the student populace and mitigating interior impact of released chemical
• Test proficiency of first responders (fire and law enforcement) and pre-hospital care at scene of release and
their ability to protect themselves while controlling the scene and rescuing victims
• Test proficiency of the emergency medical care staff at hospital, and the ambulance service and their ability to
establish an Incident Command System, set up triage and manage a mass casualty incident
• Test proficiency of Turtle Mountain Emergency Management and Environmental Protection Agencies', roles
and responsibilities for addressing a chemical release.
There were over 1,500 individuals who participated in the FSE, including all three local schools and a multi-
jurisdictional group of tribal agencies. Organizations that helped plan and respond to the exercise included: the three
local schools (kindergarten through 12th grades), Bureau of Indian Affairs (Education and Law Enforcement Offices),
Public Health Service Indian Hospital, Belcourt Police and Fire, Indian Health Services, Belcourt Ambulance Service,
Turtle Mountain Emergency Management, Turtle Mountain Environmental Protection Agency, as well as the US EPA
Region 8.
The simulated release of 2,000 gallons of anhydrous ammonia provided the "emergency drill" for the schools and
Tribal agencies. Pnor to the exercise start, Russ Nelson (START) and I were able to give the Tribe a quick training on
the chemical release modeling tool, CAMEO. The modeling software gave the Tribe the ability to map the ammonia
plume and helped the schools realize the need to shelter in place rather than evacuate the students as the schools previ-
ously anticipated.
As in every exercise, several issues arose for the response community to improve upon during the post exercise review
"hotwash.'' Turtle Mountain designed their FSE to identify these issues and to correct them. The main issues observed
by EPA and the local participants were:
• Gaps in communication between responders, schools and hospital care
• Inadequate response equipment and PPE for a chemical release of this nature
• No evacuation plan for surrounding neighborhoods and/or contingency plan associated with large numbers of
parents who would arrive on scene concerned about their children
• No local hazmat response resources or identification of nearest hazmat response support
I was impressed with Turtle Mountain's willingness to prepare for such
an incident and, more so, for their foresight and efforts to plan for such a
chemical emergency. This small community sets a good example of how
unified teamwork can improve preparedness, planning, and response ca-
pabilities. I look forward to working with the Turtle Mountain Tribe in
the future to help plan or participate in another exercise that could further
their emergency planning and preparedness.
Trout Unlimited Debuts "Spill or Kill" Reporting Card From Denver Post
The angler who first reported the black goo oozing into Sand Creek and the South Platte River has been named Denver
Trout Unlimited Chapter's first "Hero of the South Platte."
During a ceremony Tuesday night, Trevor Tanner received a plaque honoring him for his dedication to protecting the
urban South Platte River and the chapter debuted its laminated, wallet-sized "spill or kill" reporting cards.
Tanner was fly fishing for carp on the South Platte the morning of Nov. 27 when he noticed an oily sheen and a foul
odor on the river. He wanted to report the spill, but found himself frustrated as he stood on the river bank, scratching
phone numbers into the mud as he called other anglers for ideas about where to report. He was eventually able to re-
The hotwash made evident that the Turtle Mountain Tribe participants were eager to identify what issues they needed
to address to determine the best corrective action. EPA will share their
final After Action Summary of the FSE with the Tribe and assist where
appropriate to resolve the identified issues with training and information
or with future exercises.
Page 8
-------
Planning, Prevention, and Preparedness Newsletter April 2012
port the spill to state and Tri-County health departments, but left the experience wanting to make it easier for others.
Tanner suggested Trout Unlimited develop an emergency response card " that fly fishers or anyone spending a lot of
time along the river could use to make a call if they saw something wrong in the water."
With the help of Environmental Protection Agency emergency response manager Curtis Kimbel — the first on the
scene to verify the spill — a plastic wallet sized "Spill or Kill Reporting Card" was developed and produced in less
than 20 days. The group handed out 150 cards on Tuesday night and has sent 100 more on to the West Denver and Cut-
throat Chapters of Trout Unlimited.
Newly elected Denver Trout Unlimited President Cory Stansbury said that the chapter plans to distribute the cards to
Denver Area fly shops and Trout Unlimited Chapters.
"This card has everything I needed," Tanner said in a Trout Unlimited news release. "One number, 800-424-8802, right
on the front, a list of what to look for on the back and if I have a Twitter connection, the hashtag #SPspill, that will get
the attention of other TU members @denvertu and keep them up to speed on what is going on."
Kimbel said the card is also useful to people on other waterways. "Often a tanker spill on a back country road or a fish
kill goes four days before we find out. By that time major damage has been done. With this card in hand, a trout fisher
on the stream can give us a four-day head start and possibly prevent the oil from even reaching the creek. We have the
emergency response teams ready. We just need to know where they are needed as rapidly as possible."
Kimbel said the toll-free number on the front of the card is the National Response Center for pollution emergencies and
is actually a 24-hour nationwide hotline run by the U.S. Coast Guard. They will notify all relevant federal, state, and
local agencies immediately and call back the reporting party within 30 minutes.
If there is an immediate life or injury threatening emergency 9ll should be called first. This is clearly stated on the
front of the card. "Trout Unlimited debuts "spill or kill" reporting card. " Denver Post.com 25 Jan 2012. Retrieved from http://
www.denverpost.com/news/ci 19821019
Shown below is a facsimile of the "Spill or Kill Reporting Card."
If VOU 866
SP*" or Ki" Reporting Card _Any pelrolwjm pr(xJuol ln the water
r-
-------
Planning, Prevention, and Preparedness Newsletter
April 2012
Preparedness Unit Mission Statement:
We will increase EPA Region 8 preparedness through:
• Planning, Training, Exercising, and developing outreach relations with federal agencies,
states, tribes, local organizations and the regulated community.
• Assisting in the development of EPA Region 8 preparedness planning and response capa-
bilities through the RSC, IMT, RRT, OP A, RMP, etc.
• Working with facilities to reduce accidents and spills through education, inspections and
enforcement. To view our programs, or contact a member of our team:
(Click here for Org Charts
Acronym List
IMT Incident Management Team
OPA Oil Pollution Act
RRT Regional Response Team
RSC Response Support Corps
SPCC Spill Prevention, Control, and Countenneasures
Emergencies
Report oil or
chemical spills al
800-424-8802
More ...
1 (800) 424-8802
National
Response
Center
Risk Management Program (RMP)
Bradley Miller-Coordinator303-312-6483/ miller.bradley@epa. gov
Need More info on the Risk Management Program (RMP)?
http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/rmp will be updated as new information becomes available. EPA
maintains numerous listserves to keep the public, state and local officials, and industry up to date,
including several that pertain to emergency management. You can sign up for our listserve to re-
ceive periodic updates: https://lists.epa.gov/read/all forums/subscribe?name=callcenter oswer
RMP Reporting Center
The Reporting Center can answer questions about software or installation problems. The RMP Reporting Center is available from
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, for questions on the Risk Management Plan program: (703) 227-7650 (phone)
RMPRC@epacdx.net (e-mail)
Chemical Emergency Preparedness & Prevention Office (CEPPO) http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/index.htm
Compliance and Enforcement: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/index.html
Compliance Assistance: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/assistance/index.html
Call our hotline, the Superfund, TRI, EPCRA, RMP, and Oil Information Center: (800) 424-9346, or (703) 412-9810,
TDD (800) 553-7672, or (703) 412-3323; Mon-Thurs., 10:00 am to 3:00 pmET (except Federal Holidays) or see
www.epa.gov/superfund/contacts/iiifocenter/iiidex.htm.
You can also call or write to:
U.S. EPA Region 8
1595 Wynkoop Street (8EPR-SA)
Denver, CO 80202-1129
800-227-8917
CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, and WY
To report an oil or chemical spill, call the National Response Center at (800) 424-8802.
This newsletter provides information on the EPA Risk Management Program, EPCRA, SPCC/FRP (Facility Response Plan) and
other issues relating to Accidental Release Prevention Requirements. The information should be used as a reference tool, not as
a definitive source of compliance information. Compliance regulations are published in 40 CFR Part 68 for CAA section 112(r)
Risk Management Program, 40 CFR Part 355/370for EPCRA, and 40 CFR Part 112.2 for SPCC/FRP.
Page 10
------- |