9/5/1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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SEP 5 `989 KOK 7 RETROACTIVE APPROVAL RE HAZARDOUS MATERIAL CLEANUP ACTIVITIES The Board reviewed the following memo from Emergency Manage- ment Director Doug Wright: TO: Board of County Commissioners THRU: James Chandler �J County Administrator}( f_ FROM: Doug Wright,.Director Emergency Management Services DATE: September 1, 1989 SUBJECT: Retroactive Approval of Staff Actions Taken and Funding for Hazardous Material Cleanup Activities On August 20, 1989, the Indian River County Department of Emergency Management Services was notified that a substance that appeared to be hazardous material had been discovered in a canal in the area of 66th Avenue along 4th Street in the general location of the old Stump Dump. Staff from Emergency Management Services determined immediate action was required and a temporary dirt dike was placed in the canal to contain the unknown substance to prevent further contamination. The State Warning Point was notified along with the 'Department of Environmental Regulation and the local Environmental Health Office. After DER failed to contact the County Emergency Management Services on Monday, the State was again contacted for support. On August 22, 1989, Ed Sainten from DER telephoned seeking information on the spill and arrived on site on August 23, 1989. He advised Emergency Management staff that the -spill was minimal and only 200-300 gallons of hazardous material would need to be removed. Local staff did not accept this analysis inasmuch as the contaminated canal was three tenths of a mile long with an additional low lying area of approximately one-half acre also contaminated immediately south of the canal. DER indicated that since it was a county canal, the County should not.expect any financial assistance from DER. On August 25, 1989, after receiving information from DER relative to dependable and reputable companies available for hazardous material cleanup activities, Resource Recovery of America from Mulberry, Florida, was contacted. After a lengthy discussion with management of the firm, it was agreed that a representative would be on site on August 28, 1989, to begin cleanup activities. The information from the DER representative was provided to the company in terms of significance of the spill. It was anticipated at this time that the costs of the cleanup activities would be in the range of $3,000 to $5,000 dollars. As expected, when Resource Recovery of America arrived on site, it was immediately conveyed to the County that the site was contaminated to a much greater extent than DER had estimated. Staff was advised that an estimate for the cleanup including disposal of debris and soil at a permitted site would be in the range of $17,500 and could potentially increase if the low lying contaminated area south of the canal was substantial. The Director contacted the Budget Director regarding the estimated costs regarding funding. Since the spill appeared to.be a hazard to other canals and waterways -if additional rain was experienced as well as a potential threat to marine and human life, it was determined that an emergency existed and the Emergency Management Services Director agreed for the cleanup to commence as soon as possible. 24