Petroleum (Acid?) Spill, Huron River, A2, Michigan
Q&A
Who / when / where was the spill detected?
"Alarm: 19:17:53, Arrival: 19:24:21, Controlled: 23:04:43, Last Unit Cleared: 23:04:43" -- AAFD Incident Report
"report of a large oil/fuel spill in the river below the UM helipad. Caller indicated it was a approximately 20 foot oil/fuel spill in the river at the end of the parking lot" -- AAFD Incident Report
"Second caller from ######, ###### advising could see large spill behind Towers leaking into the river." -- AAFD Incident Report
"Ann Arbor resident observed an unknown material on a portion of the Huron River and contacted 911 at approximately 7:30pm on Monday, July 19, 2010" -- OSEH to MDNRE
"Last night a citizen observed a white-yellow grease-like substance in the river at 7:30 pm and called 911" -- HRWC
"Miscellaneous Non-Criminal" -- DPS Incident Report (how is a spill not criminal?)
"This incident occurred on July 19th at approximately 7:20pm"-- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
Home address of Complainant: "Huron Valley Ambulance, Ann Arbor, MI" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"###### ###### UofM OSEH spoke with Survival Flight and the hospital with nothing to report reference any type of spillage" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
Question -- The Huron Valley Ambulance called in the original emergency call to DPS, and they have no reference to the spill?
"######, an employee from H.V.A. who contacted our Dept. to report the river contamination issue was not on scene." -- UM DPS Incident Report.
Question -- So, indeed, the HVA was on scene (according to that statement), but the person from the Huron Valley Ambulance left the scene?
What was in the spill?
Short Answer -- Petroleum (I could smell it), Phosphoric Acid (AAFD test), Mineral Oils
"Incident Type: 422, Chemical spill or leak" -- AAFD Incident Report
"Actions Taken: 40, Hazardous Condition" -- AAFD Incident Report
"PH taken revealing 7, neutral. Attempted to identify material with Haz ID with 88% indication of Phosphoric Acid" -- AAFD Incident Report
"Sample indicated that there was a mixture of products. Attempted to narrow down chemical but were unsuccessful getting a definitive reading." -- AAFD Incident Report
"6 D/O, 8 FF, 2 LT, 1 CAPT. to an 'Activity' of 'HC Hazardous" -- AAFD Incident Report
"The U of M OSEA is unable to identify the substance in an email from ###### ######" -- Firefighter narrative
"I made contact with ###### ###### who works for U of M OSEA." ... ..."She asked if she could have a sample to try to identify what it was. I informed her that the sample was at Station #6" -- Firefighter narrative
"someone on your team had their boots contaminated while on the spill Monday night. We were able to test the material yesterday and found it to be a petroleum based product. It had a faint smell of gas like a weed whip or chain saw, maybe 2 stroke oil and gas mixture" -- Office of Emergency Preparedness
"Probably will never know for sure and the source was never found" -- Office of Emergency Preparedness
"AAFD preliminarily identified the material as phosphoric acid. AAFD also performed repeated pH testing of the material sampled at the scene; all results showed the pH was neutral (7)" -- OSEH to MDNRE
"UM obtained a very small split sample of the discharged material from AAFD on Tuesday, July 20, 2010" -- OSEH to MDNRE
"identified the substance as petroleum-based with a neutral pH (7)" -- OSEH to MDNRE
"The substance is unknown" -- HRWC
"a small-volume sample has been collected" -- HRWC
"not sure if sample size sufficient" -- HRWC
"material likely was a petroleum-based product. It appeared to be similar to product used in 2-cycle engines" -DPS email responding on behalf of email to OSEH officials (OSEH officials make no comment)
"the most definitive conclusion we will be able make is that it was a petroleum-based product. Perhaps it was oil, and perhaps not" -- DPS email responding on behalf of email to OSEH officials (OSEH officials make no comment)
"The definition of oil according to 40 CFR 112 is: Oil of any kind or in any form, including but not limited to petroleum" -- Environmental Management slideshow on 'Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan (SPCC)
"yellowish in color with a petroleum odor, was not fuel but an oil of some sort" -- MDNRE
"Ann Arbor Fire Dept Lt. ###### ######, analyzed the unknown chemical substance obtained via skimming the surface of the water. According to Lt. Strickfaden, a machine analyzed the chemicals wihin the water as 'Phosphoric Acid - H3PO4". This information was made available @ approx. 8:52 pm." -- UM DPS Incident Report
"###### also advised that another analysis had been conducted by other Ann Arbor Fire Dept. personnel down by Gallop Park. A different/unknown chemical substance was obtained at that time per Lt. ######" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"On page three of his narrative report, ###### reported the results indicating that the substance was Mineral Oil. And the following data/results to support that conclusion is as follows... pH of 7 to 8, Photo Ionization Detector = 21 ppm, Flame Test = non flammable, Ahura = no match found, Hazmat ID Light Mineral Oil .91381 similarity, Mineral Oil .91175 similarity" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"At this time, the point of origin for the spill, amount, and cause of spill is unknown" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
"The author of the email misinterpreted the 88% as the concentration of Phosphoric Acid when in reality it indicated that the Haz ID was 88% sure the substance was Phosphoric Acid" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
"It is unknown who from AAFD conducted those test in addition those results are skewed because Phosphoric Acid has a pH of 1.5" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
"after researching Phosphoric Acid the Material Safety Data Sheet provided by Sciencelab.com Section 9 refers to the physical and chemcial properties of Phosphoric Acid. Phosphoric Acid is clear, colorless syrupy liquid, odorless,, miscible in all proportions in water, and has a pH of 1.5" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
"In addition, the liquid had a petroleum scent which contradicts the odorless property of Phosphoric Acid" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
"I personally observed a sample from the water that night and there was a complete separation of the two liquids" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
Question -- Mineral Oil? From my understanding, mineral oil has no odor. But, I could smell an odor in the river. Why the discrepency? Where was the mineral oil test done? On what day? On what item (river, boots?)
Question -- Phosphoric Acid pH 7: could that not indicate that it was just diluted in the water? What pH does medical/food phosphoric acid have?
Question -- Theoretically: Because you could smell something, it does not mean the acid was not in the water. It could be mixed into the water. Also, just because you see two substances in the water, and acid will disolve into the water, it does not mean that it wasn't in the water.
Hypothetical question -- What would you see in the water, if you mixed oil, phosphoric acid and yellow paint? What would you see if you let it disolve for a while? Again, just a hypothetical question.
Who initially responded to it?
Apparatus: 8, Personnel: 17" -- AAFD Incident Report
"1 Rescue Unit, 2 Trucks, 2 Engines, 1 Chief Officer Car, 2 Hazmat Units" -- AAFD Incident Report
"6 D/O, 8 FF, 2 LT, 1 CAPT. to an 'Activity' of 'HC Hazardous" -- AAFD Incident Report
"BC notified County EOC, City Emergency Management, County Haz Mat, Drain Commission and requested for U of M OSHA (###### ######)" -- AAFD Incident Report
"Ann Arbor Fire Department (AAFD) initially responded to the scene" -- OSEH to MDNRE
"UMH security, UM-Department of Public Safety (DPS) and UM-Occupational Safety and Environmental Health (OSEH) also responded" -- OSEH to MDNRE
"FD was first responder" -- HRWC
"I've talked with FD, Emerg. Mgt and ###### ######, and notified the WCWRC ###### ######, and the WWTP in case they get any calls. ######, ###### are aware of this as well" -- HRWC
"City of Ann Arbor also appears ot have followed all reporting requirements to other local agencies" -- MDNRE
Home address of Complainant: "Huron Valley Ambulance, Ann Arbor, MI" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"###### ###### UofM OSEH spoke with Survival Flight and the hospital with nothing to report reference any type of spillage" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
Question -- The Huron Valley Ambulance called in the original emergency call to DPS, and they have no reference to the spill?
"######, an employee from H.V.A. who contacted our Dept. to report the river contamination issue was not on scene." -- UM DPS Incident Report.
Question -- So, indeed, the HVA was on scene (according to that statement), but the person from the Huron Valley Ambulance left the scene?
Where did the spill enter the river?
"Source located from a large drain, north east parking lot of Nicholas Arboretum." -- AAFD Incident Report
"outfall near the UM Hospital (UMH) parking lot on Nichols Drive. The outfall is located at the edge of a parking lot #M-29; Nicholds Drive near E. Medical Center Drive, on the University of Michigan's Medical Campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan" -- OSEH to MDNRE
"coming from a 36" UM outfall into the river near the hospital (just down from the helicopter pad)" -- HRWC
"storm sewer outfall near Parking Lot M29" -- MDNRE
Before entering the river, where did the spill come from?
Verbally -- "It could have come from residential areas"
(I have been unable to find this in writing on any incident reports)
AAFD Incident Report location: "Location - Street address -- 1700 E Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104" -- AAFD
UM DPS Incident Report location: "1400 Nichols Dr" -- UM DPS
"Request U of M retrieve schematics for drain to find where it may be entering drain, its source which appeared to be from U of M properties" -- AAFD Incident Report
"they were putting booms at Gallup Park to try to catch what they could of the substance and had found the source of the problem" -- Firefighter narrative
"told us that U of M was taking responsibility for the incident since the storm water pipe came from the U of M property" -- Firefighter narrative
"UM OESH called on site and took responsibility for the remainder of cleanup and reporting, as it was their system" -- HRWC
"we aren't able to determine the quantity that was discharged nor the actual source" -- DPS email responding on behalf of email to OSEH officials (OSEH officials make no comment)
"UM personnel continued to investigate the source of the spill last week, checking all the buildings in the area (including UM Hospital among many others) -- MDNRE
"they were able to rule out the UM helipad because it does not drain to the same storm sewer as the one involved in this spill" -- MDNRE
"UM staff re-checked the storm sewer outfall and the upstream storm sewer manholes" -- MDNRE
"isolated event of unknown origin" -- MDNRE
"Unfortunate that first responders were unable to determine a source of the spill despite their best efforts" -- MDNRE
"At this time, the point of origin for the spill, amount, and cause of spill is unknown" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"UM DPS Police Officer, ###### ######, checked the name on the construction equipment kept inside the M-18 parking structure per my request. The name on the equipment is "###### ######" ((###)-###-####). It appears as though they are doing parking structure restorative work in the M-18 parking structure. Phosphoric Acid is commonly used as a cleaner by construction site cement crews to remove mineral depositis according to information obtained by UM DPS Coommunications Specialist, ###### ######." -- UM DPS Incident Report
"A canvass of the M-18 construction site was conducted by UofM PD officers and UofM OSEH staff. No phosphoric acid was found and no phosphoric acid waiver was issued to construction company, ###### ######." -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
"A canvass was done by UofM OSEH ###### ###### and ###### ###### of the drainage pipe and access points. The specific drainage pipe has over 100 access points and is approx. 2,900 feet in length. There are numerous catch basins, manholes and stsorm grates that were checked for any type of residue consistent with the substance found in the Huron River. They did not discover the location of origin" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
Question -- Did that go to city property? If so, then the city police should have been involved?
"###### ###### from UofM AEC responsible for the Kresge construction site reported no spills on that site. ###### ###### from Parking Services reported that work crews checked M-18 with negative results of any petroleum and/or acid spill." -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
How far did the spill go after the outfall? How large was it?
Before the storm: Gallup Park
After the storm: who knows. it was dispersed. potentially further downstream as booms compromised.
Boom in place Gallup: 20:23:38" -- AAFD Incident Report
"Caller indicated it was a approximately 20 foot oil/fuel spill" -- AAFD Incident report
"Second caller from ######, ###### advising could see large spill behind Towers" -- AAFD Incident report
"deployed to place boom at Gallup Park and to where believe to be source entering river" -- AAFD Incident report
"At 20:23 on July 19, 2010 I received a Code Spear Message asking for a Washtenaw County Hazmat Team Leaders only response to Gallup Park for a fuel spill in the Huron River" -- Firefighter narrative
"It appeared that all of the booming materials had been washed away. The only boom that was left had a rope tied to it but it was not where we placed it" -- Firefighter narrative
"Booms were placed at the outfall and at Gallup to capture the material" -- HRWC
"quantity of the discharge is unknown, but it was observed floating down the river for a couple hours" -- HRWC
"observed an unknown material on a portion of the Huron River" -- OSEH to MDNRE (they fail to mention what portion of river)
"we aren't able to determine the quantity that was discharged" -- DPS email responding on behalf of email to OSEH officials (OSEH officials make no comment)
"The Ann Arbor Fire Dept. did not have any thoughts/ideas pertaining to the an amount of contaminants which may have gone downstream" -- UM DPS Incident Report
Cleanup effort?
-First responders worked hard, but had problems with equipment
"HZ1 & E-6: 19:52:09" -- AAFD Incident Report
"Boom in place Gallup: 20:23:38" -- AAFD Incident Report
"County HAZ MAT on standby: 20:34:55" -- AAFD Incident Report
"FF ###### requested for more booms, pads and pillows. FF ###### arrived on scene to assist deploying booms and pads, using protective boots and gloves for personnel entering the river also FF ###### compiled list of equipment used." -- AAFD Incident Report (note -- I think this firefighter should be THANKED and APPLAUDED *clap clap*
"who informed us he worked for U of M OSEA" ... ... "He told the BC and myself that he had been on the phone with others from OSEA and the were working on getting a Vactor Truck to the scene to clean up the spill" -- Firefighter narrative
"We left the scene at 23:04" -- Firefighter narrative
"At approximately 7:15 on July 20, 2010 I returned to the scene to see if the containment made it through the night with the heavy rains that we had. It appeared that all of the booming materials had been washed away" -- Firefighter narrative
"The water level had risen approximately 10 to 12 inches" -- Firefighter narrative
"Booms were placed at the outfall and at Gallup to capture the material" -- HRWC"booms near outfall were compromised" -- HRWC
"boom in Gallup reminaed intact and should have captured all of the material" -- HRWC
"UM and the Ann Arbor Fire Department used oil absorbent booms and pads to capture as much of the material as possible" -- MDNRE
"we recognize not all the material was captured and contained" -- MDNRE
"If any residual oil from the spill on the 19th had remained in the pipe until the 23rd, it would have been discharged as well" -- MDNRE
Who was responsible for cleanup / reporting / investigating?
Verbally -- "The public was not notified, as first responders did not view it as a threat"
"Scene terminated turning over to U of M OSHA, ###### ######" -- AAFD Incident Report
"scene was turned over to U of M, and a gentleman by the name of ###### ###### who informed us he worked for U of M OSEA, told us that U of M was taking responsibility for the incident since the storm water pipe came from U of M property" -- Firefighter narrative
"UM OESH was called on site and took responsibility for the remainder of cleanup and reporting" -- HRWC
"your information was forwarded to the U of M Department of Public Safety as they are handling this incident" -- A2 City Police
"Yes, the University is following their requirements. They have no other requirements to follow regarding this particular incident. They have completed their duites at this time". MDNRE
"They responded appropriately to the spill and conducted a thorough investigation" -- MDNRE
"no obligations for U of M to make public notice for an incident like this" -- MDNRE
"No criminal activity and/or malice was discovered in this investigation and there are no investigative leads at this time" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"Case Status: Closed" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"With so many people from different departments and agencies all answers to inquiries should come from the incident commander and/or HazMat leader" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
"UM OSEH Representative, ###### ###### arrived on the scene at approx. 9:30pm. ###### advised that the Ann Arbor Fire Dept. was in control of the scene and he was an observer" -- UM DPS Narrative Report, July 19th
Question: So AAFD was in control and OSEH was just watching?
"The scene was then turned over to U of M, and a gentleman by the name of ###### ###### [same name as the quote above], who informed us he worked for U of M OSEA, told us that U of M was taking responsibility for the incident since the storm water pipe came from the U of M property." -- AAFD Narative Incident Report, July 19th
Question: So OSEH was in control and AAFD was just watching? (does that contradicts what was said above?)
In the future, who do I call if there is a spill on the Huron River?
"call ###### ###### at OSEH" -- MDNRE
"call DPS" -- DPS
"call 911" -- everyone else
Who / when / where was the spill detected?
"Alarm: 19:17:53, Arrival: 19:24:21, Controlled: 23:04:43, Last Unit Cleared: 23:04:43" -- AAFD Incident Report
"report of a large oil/fuel spill in the river below the UM helipad. Caller indicated it was a approximately 20 foot oil/fuel spill in the river at the end of the parking lot" -- AAFD Incident Report
"Second caller from ######, ###### advising could see large spill behind Towers leaking into the river." -- AAFD Incident Report
"Ann Arbor resident observed an unknown material on a portion of the Huron River and contacted 911 at approximately 7:30pm on Monday, July 19, 2010" -- OSEH to MDNRE
"Last night a citizen observed a white-yellow grease-like substance in the river at 7:30 pm and called 911" -- HRWC
"Miscellaneous Non-Criminal" -- DPS Incident Report (how is a spill not criminal?)
"This incident occurred on July 19th at approximately 7:20pm"-- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
Home address of Complainant: "Huron Valley Ambulance, Ann Arbor, MI" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"###### ###### UofM OSEH spoke with Survival Flight and the hospital with nothing to report reference any type of spillage" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
Question -- The Huron Valley Ambulance called in the original emergency call to DPS, and they have no reference to the spill?
"######, an employee from H.V.A. who contacted our Dept. to report the river contamination issue was not on scene." -- UM DPS Incident Report.
Question -- So, indeed, the HVA was on scene (according to that statement), but the person from the Huron Valley Ambulance left the scene?
What was in the spill?
Short Answer -- Petroleum (I could smell it), Phosphoric Acid (AAFD test), Mineral Oils
"Incident Type: 422, Chemical spill or leak" -- AAFD Incident Report
"Actions Taken: 40, Hazardous Condition" -- AAFD Incident Report
"PH taken revealing 7, neutral. Attempted to identify material with Haz ID with 88% indication of Phosphoric Acid" -- AAFD Incident Report
"Sample indicated that there was a mixture of products. Attempted to narrow down chemical but were unsuccessful getting a definitive reading." -- AAFD Incident Report
"6 D/O, 8 FF, 2 LT, 1 CAPT. to an 'Activity' of 'HC Hazardous" -- AAFD Incident Report
"The U of M OSEA is unable to identify the substance in an email from ###### ######" -- Firefighter narrative
"I made contact with ###### ###### who works for U of M OSEA." ... ..."She asked if she could have a sample to try to identify what it was. I informed her that the sample was at Station #6" -- Firefighter narrative
"someone on your team had their boots contaminated while on the spill Monday night. We were able to test the material yesterday and found it to be a petroleum based product. It had a faint smell of gas like a weed whip or chain saw, maybe 2 stroke oil and gas mixture" -- Office of Emergency Preparedness
"Probably will never know for sure and the source was never found" -- Office of Emergency Preparedness
"AAFD preliminarily identified the material as phosphoric acid. AAFD also performed repeated pH testing of the material sampled at the scene; all results showed the pH was neutral (7)" -- OSEH to MDNRE
"UM obtained a very small split sample of the discharged material from AAFD on Tuesday, July 20, 2010" -- OSEH to MDNRE
"identified the substance as petroleum-based with a neutral pH (7)" -- OSEH to MDNRE
"The substance is unknown" -- HRWC
"a small-volume sample has been collected" -- HRWC
"not sure if sample size sufficient" -- HRWC
"material likely was a petroleum-based product. It appeared to be similar to product used in 2-cycle engines" -DPS email responding on behalf of email to OSEH officials (OSEH officials make no comment)
"the most definitive conclusion we will be able make is that it was a petroleum-based product. Perhaps it was oil, and perhaps not" -- DPS email responding on behalf of email to OSEH officials (OSEH officials make no comment)
"The definition of oil according to 40 CFR 112 is: Oil of any kind or in any form, including but not limited to petroleum" -- Environmental Management slideshow on 'Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan (SPCC)
"yellowish in color with a petroleum odor, was not fuel but an oil of some sort" -- MDNRE
"Ann Arbor Fire Dept Lt. ###### ######, analyzed the unknown chemical substance obtained via skimming the surface of the water. According to Lt. Strickfaden, a machine analyzed the chemicals wihin the water as 'Phosphoric Acid - H3PO4". This information was made available @ approx. 8:52 pm." -- UM DPS Incident Report
"###### also advised that another analysis had been conducted by other Ann Arbor Fire Dept. personnel down by Gallop Park. A different/unknown chemical substance was obtained at that time per Lt. ######" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"On page three of his narrative report, ###### reported the results indicating that the substance was Mineral Oil. And the following data/results to support that conclusion is as follows... pH of 7 to 8, Photo Ionization Detector = 21 ppm, Flame Test = non flammable, Ahura = no match found, Hazmat ID Light Mineral Oil .91381 similarity, Mineral Oil .91175 similarity" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"At this time, the point of origin for the spill, amount, and cause of spill is unknown" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
"The author of the email misinterpreted the 88% as the concentration of Phosphoric Acid when in reality it indicated that the Haz ID was 88% sure the substance was Phosphoric Acid" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
"It is unknown who from AAFD conducted those test in addition those results are skewed because Phosphoric Acid has a pH of 1.5" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
"after researching Phosphoric Acid the Material Safety Data Sheet provided by Sciencelab.com Section 9 refers to the physical and chemcial properties of Phosphoric Acid. Phosphoric Acid is clear, colorless syrupy liquid, odorless,, miscible in all proportions in water, and has a pH of 1.5" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
"In addition, the liquid had a petroleum scent which contradicts the odorless property of Phosphoric Acid" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
"I personally observed a sample from the water that night and there was a complete separation of the two liquids" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
Question -- Mineral Oil? From my understanding, mineral oil has no odor. But, I could smell an odor in the river. Why the discrepency? Where was the mineral oil test done? On what day? On what item (river, boots?)
Question -- Phosphoric Acid pH 7: could that not indicate that it was just diluted in the water? What pH does medical/food phosphoric acid have?
Question -- Theoretically: Because you could smell something, it does not mean the acid was not in the water. It could be mixed into the water. Also, just because you see two substances in the water, and acid will disolve into the water, it does not mean that it wasn't in the water.
Hypothetical question -- What would you see in the water, if you mixed oil, phosphoric acid and yellow paint? What would you see if you let it disolve for a while? Again, just a hypothetical question.
Who initially responded to it?
Apparatus: 8, Personnel: 17" -- AAFD Incident Report
"1 Rescue Unit, 2 Trucks, 2 Engines, 1 Chief Officer Car, 2 Hazmat Units" -- AAFD Incident Report
"6 D/O, 8 FF, 2 LT, 1 CAPT. to an 'Activity' of 'HC Hazardous" -- AAFD Incident Report
"BC notified County EOC, City Emergency Management, County Haz Mat, Drain Commission and requested for U of M OSHA (###### ######)" -- AAFD Incident Report
"Ann Arbor Fire Department (AAFD) initially responded to the scene" -- OSEH to MDNRE
"UMH security, UM-Department of Public Safety (DPS) and UM-Occupational Safety and Environmental Health (OSEH) also responded" -- OSEH to MDNRE
"FD was first responder" -- HRWC
"I've talked with FD, Emerg. Mgt and ###### ######, and notified the WCWRC ###### ######, and the WWTP in case they get any calls. ######, ###### are aware of this as well" -- HRWC
"City of Ann Arbor also appears ot have followed all reporting requirements to other local agencies" -- MDNRE
Home address of Complainant: "Huron Valley Ambulance, Ann Arbor, MI" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"###### ###### UofM OSEH spoke with Survival Flight and the hospital with nothing to report reference any type of spillage" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
Question -- The Huron Valley Ambulance called in the original emergency call to DPS, and they have no reference to the spill?
"######, an employee from H.V.A. who contacted our Dept. to report the river contamination issue was not on scene." -- UM DPS Incident Report.
Question -- So, indeed, the HVA was on scene (according to that statement), but the person from the Huron Valley Ambulance left the scene?
Where did the spill enter the river?
"Source located from a large drain, north east parking lot of Nicholas Arboretum." -- AAFD Incident Report
"outfall near the UM Hospital (UMH) parking lot on Nichols Drive. The outfall is located at the edge of a parking lot #M-29; Nicholds Drive near E. Medical Center Drive, on the University of Michigan's Medical Campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan" -- OSEH to MDNRE
"coming from a 36" UM outfall into the river near the hospital (just down from the helicopter pad)" -- HRWC
"storm sewer outfall near Parking Lot M29" -- MDNRE
Before entering the river, where did the spill come from?
Verbally -- "It could have come from residential areas"
(I have been unable to find this in writing on any incident reports)
AAFD Incident Report location: "Location - Street address -- 1700 E Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104" -- AAFD
UM DPS Incident Report location: "1400 Nichols Dr" -- UM DPS
"Request U of M retrieve schematics for drain to find where it may be entering drain, its source which appeared to be from U of M properties" -- AAFD Incident Report
"they were putting booms at Gallup Park to try to catch what they could of the substance and had found the source of the problem" -- Firefighter narrative
"told us that U of M was taking responsibility for the incident since the storm water pipe came from the U of M property" -- Firefighter narrative
"UM OESH called on site and took responsibility for the remainder of cleanup and reporting, as it was their system" -- HRWC
"we aren't able to determine the quantity that was discharged nor the actual source" -- DPS email responding on behalf of email to OSEH officials (OSEH officials make no comment)
"UM personnel continued to investigate the source of the spill last week, checking all the buildings in the area (including UM Hospital among many others) -- MDNRE
"they were able to rule out the UM helipad because it does not drain to the same storm sewer as the one involved in this spill" -- MDNRE
"UM staff re-checked the storm sewer outfall and the upstream storm sewer manholes" -- MDNRE
"isolated event of unknown origin" -- MDNRE
"Unfortunate that first responders were unable to determine a source of the spill despite their best efforts" -- MDNRE
"At this time, the point of origin for the spill, amount, and cause of spill is unknown" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"UM DPS Police Officer, ###### ######, checked the name on the construction equipment kept inside the M-18 parking structure per my request. The name on the equipment is "###### ######" ((###)-###-####). It appears as though they are doing parking structure restorative work in the M-18 parking structure. Phosphoric Acid is commonly used as a cleaner by construction site cement crews to remove mineral depositis according to information obtained by UM DPS Coommunications Specialist, ###### ######." -- UM DPS Incident Report
"A canvass of the M-18 construction site was conducted by UofM PD officers and UofM OSEH staff. No phosphoric acid was found and no phosphoric acid waiver was issued to construction company, ###### ######." -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
"A canvass was done by UofM OSEH ###### ###### and ###### ###### of the drainage pipe and access points. The specific drainage pipe has over 100 access points and is approx. 2,900 feet in length. There are numerous catch basins, manholes and stsorm grates that were checked for any type of residue consistent with the substance found in the Huron River. They did not discover the location of origin" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
Question -- Did that go to city property? If so, then the city police should have been involved?
"###### ###### from UofM AEC responsible for the Kresge construction site reported no spills on that site. ###### ###### from Parking Services reported that work crews checked M-18 with negative results of any petroleum and/or acid spill." -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
How far did the spill go after the outfall? How large was it?
Before the storm: Gallup Park
After the storm: who knows. it was dispersed. potentially further downstream as booms compromised.
Boom in place Gallup: 20:23:38" -- AAFD Incident Report
"Caller indicated it was a approximately 20 foot oil/fuel spill" -- AAFD Incident report
"Second caller from ######, ###### advising could see large spill behind Towers" -- AAFD Incident report
"deployed to place boom at Gallup Park and to where believe to be source entering river" -- AAFD Incident report
"At 20:23 on July 19, 2010 I received a Code Spear Message asking for a Washtenaw County Hazmat Team Leaders only response to Gallup Park for a fuel spill in the Huron River" -- Firefighter narrative
"It appeared that all of the booming materials had been washed away. The only boom that was left had a rope tied to it but it was not where we placed it" -- Firefighter narrative
"Booms were placed at the outfall and at Gallup to capture the material" -- HRWC
"quantity of the discharge is unknown, but it was observed floating down the river for a couple hours" -- HRWC
"observed an unknown material on a portion of the Huron River" -- OSEH to MDNRE (they fail to mention what portion of river)
"we aren't able to determine the quantity that was discharged" -- DPS email responding on behalf of email to OSEH officials (OSEH officials make no comment)
"The Ann Arbor Fire Dept. did not have any thoughts/ideas pertaining to the an amount of contaminants which may have gone downstream" -- UM DPS Incident Report
Cleanup effort?
-First responders worked hard, but had problems with equipment
"HZ1 & E-6: 19:52:09" -- AAFD Incident Report
"Boom in place Gallup: 20:23:38" -- AAFD Incident Report
"County HAZ MAT on standby: 20:34:55" -- AAFD Incident Report
"FF ###### requested for more booms, pads and pillows. FF ###### arrived on scene to assist deploying booms and pads, using protective boots and gloves for personnel entering the river also FF ###### compiled list of equipment used." -- AAFD Incident Report (note -- I think this firefighter should be THANKED and APPLAUDED *clap clap*
"who informed us he worked for U of M OSEA" ... ... "He told the BC and myself that he had been on the phone with others from OSEA and the were working on getting a Vactor Truck to the scene to clean up the spill" -- Firefighter narrative
"We left the scene at 23:04" -- Firefighter narrative
"At approximately 7:15 on July 20, 2010 I returned to the scene to see if the containment made it through the night with the heavy rains that we had. It appeared that all of the booming materials had been washed away" -- Firefighter narrative
"The water level had risen approximately 10 to 12 inches" -- Firefighter narrative
"Booms were placed at the outfall and at Gallup to capture the material" -- HRWC"booms near outfall were compromised" -- HRWC
"boom in Gallup reminaed intact and should have captured all of the material" -- HRWC
"UM and the Ann Arbor Fire Department used oil absorbent booms and pads to capture as much of the material as possible" -- MDNRE
"we recognize not all the material was captured and contained" -- MDNRE
"If any residual oil from the spill on the 19th had remained in the pipe until the 23rd, it would have been discharged as well" -- MDNRE
Who was responsible for cleanup / reporting / investigating?
Verbally -- "The public was not notified, as first responders did not view it as a threat"
"Scene terminated turning over to U of M OSHA, ###### ######" -- AAFD Incident Report
"scene was turned over to U of M, and a gentleman by the name of ###### ###### who informed us he worked for U of M OSEA, told us that U of M was taking responsibility for the incident since the storm water pipe came from U of M property" -- Firefighter narrative
"UM OESH was called on site and took responsibility for the remainder of cleanup and reporting" -- HRWC
"your information was forwarded to the U of M Department of Public Safety as they are handling this incident" -- A2 City Police
"Yes, the University is following their requirements. They have no other requirements to follow regarding this particular incident. They have completed their duites at this time". MDNRE
"They responded appropriately to the spill and conducted a thorough investigation" -- MDNRE
"no obligations for U of M to make public notice for an incident like this" -- MDNRE
"No criminal activity and/or malice was discovered in this investigation and there are no investigative leads at this time" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"Case Status: Closed" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"With so many people from different departments and agencies all answers to inquiries should come from the incident commander and/or HazMat leader" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
"UM OSEH Representative, ###### ###### arrived on the scene at approx. 9:30pm. ###### advised that the Ann Arbor Fire Dept. was in control of the scene and he was an observer" -- UM DPS Narrative Report, July 19th
Question: So AAFD was in control and OSEH was just watching?
"The scene was then turned over to U of M, and a gentleman by the name of ###### ###### [same name as the quote above], who informed us he worked for U of M OSEA, told us that U of M was taking responsibility for the incident since the storm water pipe came from the U of M property." -- AAFD Narative Incident Report, July 19th
Question: So OSEH was in control and AAFD was just watching? (does that contradicts what was said above?)
In the future, who do I call if there is a spill on the Huron River?
"call ###### ###### at OSEH" -- MDNRE
"call DPS" -- DPS
"call 911" -- everyone else
"1 Rescue Unit, 2 Trucks, 2 Engines, 1 Chief Officer Car, 2 Hazmat Units" -- AAFD Incident Report
"6 D/O, 8 FF, 2 LT, 1 CAPT. to an 'Activity' of 'HC Hazardous" -- AAFD Incident Report
"BC notified County EOC, City Emergency Management, County Haz Mat, Drain Commission and requested for U of M OSHA (###### ######)" -- AAFD Incident Report
"Ann Arbor Fire Department (AAFD) initially responded to the scene" -- OSEH to MDNRE
"UMH security, UM-Department of Public Safety (DPS) and UM-Occupational Safety and Environmental Health (OSEH) also responded" -- OSEH to MDNRE
"FD was first responder" -- HRWC
"I've talked with FD, Emerg. Mgt and ###### ######, and notified the WCWRC ###### ######, and the WWTP in case they get any calls. ######, ###### are aware of this as well" -- HRWC
"City of Ann Arbor also appears ot have followed all reporting requirements to other local agencies" -- MDNRE
Home address of Complainant: "Huron Valley Ambulance, Ann Arbor, MI" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"###### ###### UofM OSEH spoke with Survival Flight and the hospital with nothing to report reference any type of spillage" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
Question -- The Huron Valley Ambulance called in the original emergency call to DPS, and they have no reference to the spill?
"######, an employee from H.V.A. who contacted our Dept. to report the river contamination issue was not on scene." -- UM DPS Incident Report.
Question -- So, indeed, the HVA was on scene (according to that statement), but the person from the Huron Valley Ambulance left the scene?
"outfall near the UM Hospital (UMH) parking lot on Nichols Drive. The outfall is located at the edge of a parking lot #M-29; Nicholds Drive near E. Medical Center Drive, on the University of Michigan's Medical Campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan" -- OSEH to MDNRE
"coming from a 36" UM outfall into the river near the hospital (just down from the helicopter pad)" -- HRWC
"storm sewer outfall near Parking Lot M29" -- MDNRE
Before entering the river, where did the spill come from?
Verbally -- "It could have come from residential areas"(I have been unable to find this in writing on any incident reports)
AAFD Incident Report location: "Location - Street address -- 1700 E Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104" -- AAFD
UM DPS Incident Report location: "1400 Nichols Dr" -- UM DPS
"Request U of M retrieve schematics for drain to find where it may be entering drain, its source which appeared to be from U of M properties" -- AAFD Incident Report
"they were putting booms at Gallup Park to try to catch what they could of the substance and had found the source of the problem" -- Firefighter narrative
"told us that U of M was taking responsibility for the incident since the storm water pipe came from the U of M property" -- Firefighter narrative
"UM OESH called on site and took responsibility for the remainder of cleanup and reporting, as it was their system" -- HRWC
"we aren't able to determine the quantity that was discharged nor the actual source" -- DPS email responding on behalf of email to OSEH officials (OSEH officials make no comment)
"UM personnel continued to investigate the source of the spill last week, checking all the buildings in the area (including UM Hospital among many others) -- MDNRE
"they were able to rule out the UM helipad because it does not drain to the same storm sewer as the one involved in this spill" -- MDNRE
"UM staff re-checked the storm sewer outfall and the upstream storm sewer manholes" -- MDNRE
"isolated event of unknown origin" -- MDNRE
"Unfortunate that first responders were unable to determine a source of the spill despite their best efforts" -- MDNRE
"At this time, the point of origin for the spill, amount, and cause of spill is unknown" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"UM DPS Police Officer, ###### ######, checked the name on the construction equipment kept inside the M-18 parking structure per my request. The name on the equipment is "###### ######" ((###)-###-####). It appears as though they are doing parking structure restorative work in the M-18 parking structure. Phosphoric Acid is commonly used as a cleaner by construction site cement crews to remove mineral depositis according to information obtained by UM DPS Coommunications Specialist, ###### ######." -- UM DPS Incident Report
"A canvass of the M-18 construction site was conducted by UofM PD officers and UofM OSEH staff. No phosphoric acid was found and no phosphoric acid waiver was issued to construction company, ###### ######." -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
"A canvass was done by UofM OSEH ###### ###### and ###### ###### of the drainage pipe and access points. The specific drainage pipe has over 100 access points and is approx. 2,900 feet in length. There are numerous catch basins, manholes and stsorm grates that were checked for any type of residue consistent with the substance found in the Huron River. They did not discover the location of origin" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
Question -- Did that go to city property? If so, then the city police should have been involved?
"###### ###### from UofM AEC responsible for the Kresge construction site reported no spills on that site. ###### ###### from Parking Services reported that work crews checked M-18 with negative results of any petroleum and/or acid spill." -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
How far did the spill go after the outfall? How large was it?
Before the storm: Gallup ParkAfter the storm: who knows. it was dispersed. potentially further downstream as booms compromised.
Boom in place Gallup: 20:23:38" -- AAFD Incident Report
"Caller indicated it was a approximately 20 foot oil/fuel spill" -- AAFD Incident report
"Second caller from ######, ###### advising could see large spill behind Towers" -- AAFD Incident report
"deployed to place boom at Gallup Park and to where believe to be source entering river" -- AAFD Incident report
"At 20:23 on July 19, 2010 I received a Code Spear Message asking for a Washtenaw County Hazmat Team Leaders only response to Gallup Park for a fuel spill in the Huron River" -- Firefighter narrative
"It appeared that all of the booming materials had been washed away. The only boom that was left had a rope tied to it but it was not where we placed it" -- Firefighter narrative
"Booms were placed at the outfall and at Gallup to capture the material" -- HRWC
"quantity of the discharge is unknown, but it was observed floating down the river for a couple hours" -- HRWC
"observed an unknown material on a portion of the Huron River" -- OSEH to MDNRE (they fail to mention what portion of river)
"we aren't able to determine the quantity that was discharged" -- DPS email responding on behalf of email to OSEH officials (OSEH officials make no comment)
"The Ann Arbor Fire Dept. did not have any thoughts/ideas pertaining to the an amount of contaminants which may have gone downstream" -- UM DPS Incident Report
Cleanup effort?
-First responders worked hard, but had problems with equipment"HZ1 & E-6: 19:52:09" -- AAFD Incident Report
"Boom in place Gallup: 20:23:38" -- AAFD Incident Report
"County HAZ MAT on standby: 20:34:55" -- AAFD Incident Report
"FF ###### requested for more booms, pads and pillows. FF ###### arrived on scene to assist deploying booms and pads, using protective boots and gloves for personnel entering the river also FF ###### compiled list of equipment used." -- AAFD Incident Report (note -- I think this firefighter should be THANKED and APPLAUDED *clap clap*
"who informed us he worked for U of M OSEA" ... ... "He told the BC and myself that he had been on the phone with others from OSEA and the were working on getting a Vactor Truck to the scene to clean up the spill" -- Firefighter narrative
"We left the scene at 23:04" -- Firefighter narrative
"At approximately 7:15 on July 20, 2010 I returned to the scene to see if the containment made it through the night with the heavy rains that we had. It appeared that all of the booming materials had been washed away" -- Firefighter narrative
"The water level had risen approximately 10 to 12 inches" -- Firefighter narrative
"Booms were placed at the outfall and at Gallup to capture the material" -- HRWC"booms near outfall were compromised" -- HRWC
"boom in Gallup reminaed intact and should have captured all of the material" -- HRWC
"UM and the Ann Arbor Fire Department used oil absorbent booms and pads to capture as much of the material as possible" -- MDNRE
"we recognize not all the material was captured and contained" -- MDNRE
"If any residual oil from the spill on the 19th had remained in the pipe until the 23rd, it would have been discharged as well" -- MDNRE
Who was responsible for cleanup / reporting / investigating?
Verbally -- "The public was not notified, as first responders did not view it as a threat""Scene terminated turning over to U of M OSHA, ###### ######" -- AAFD Incident Report
"scene was turned over to U of M, and a gentleman by the name of ###### ###### who informed us he worked for U of M OSEA, told us that U of M was taking responsibility for the incident since the storm water pipe came from U of M property" -- Firefighter narrative
"UM OESH was called on site and took responsibility for the remainder of cleanup and reporting" -- HRWC
"your information was forwarded to the U of M Department of Public Safety as they are handling this incident" -- A2 City Police
"Yes, the University is following their requirements. They have no other requirements to follow regarding this particular incident. They have completed their duites at this time". MDNRE
"They responded appropriately to the spill and conducted a thorough investigation" -- MDNRE
"no obligations for U of M to make public notice for an incident like this" -- MDNRE
"No criminal activity and/or malice was discovered in this investigation and there are no investigative leads at this time" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"Case Status: Closed" -- UM DPS Incident Report
"With so many people from different departments and agencies all answers to inquiries should come from the incident commander and/or HazMat leader" -- UM DPS Additional Report, but 18 days AFTER the spill
"UM OSEH Representative, ###### ###### arrived on the scene at approx. 9:30pm. ###### advised that the Ann Arbor Fire Dept. was in control of the scene and he was an observer" -- UM DPS Narrative Report, July 19th
Question: So AAFD was in control and OSEH was just watching?
"The scene was then turned over to U of M, and a gentleman by the name of ###### ###### [same name as the quote above], who informed us he worked for U of M OSEA, told us that U of M was taking responsibility for the incident since the storm water pipe came from the U of M property." -- AAFD Narative Incident Report, July 19th
Question: So OSEH was in control and AAFD was just watching? (does that contradicts what was said above?)
In the future, who do I call if there is a spill on the Huron River?
"call ###### ###### at OSEH" -- MDNRE"call DPS" -- DPS