The Ice Storm of 2008 and Emergency Response Coordination throughout Western and Central Massachusetts
Jason J. Barroso, Tighe & Bond, Westfield, MA
Sarah A. Rocklin, Tighe & Bond, Westfield, MA
Kenneth J. Gendron, Tighe & Bond, Worcester, MA

A New Way to Collect Household Hazardous Waste
John Grabs, Camp Dresser & McKee, Chicago, IL
Kevin Schnoes, Chicago Department of Environment, Chicago, IL
Christopher Martel, Camp Dresser & McKee, Chicago, IL 

The Ice Storm of 2008 and Emergency Response Coordination throughout Western and Central Massachusetts

Jason J. Barroso, Environmental Scientist, Tighe & Bond, 53 Southampton Road, Westfield, MA 01085, United States, Tel: 413-562-1600, Fax: 413-568-9764, Email: JJBarroso@tighebond.com
Sarah A. Rocklin, Environmental Scientist, Tighe & Bond, 53 Southampton Road, Westfield, MA 01085, United States, Tel: 413-562-1600, Fax: 413-568-9764, Email: SARocklin@tighebond.com
Kenneth J. Gendron, P.G., Tighe & Bond, 446 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608, United States, Tel: 508-754-2201, Fax: 508-795-1087, Email: KJGendron@tighebond.com

On December 11, 2008, an ice storm devastated the Northeast causing critical damage to the utility infrastructure leaving over a million residents without power.  Storm damage throughout the region was mostly related to fallen trees, power lines and utility poles.  The storm made national headlines and prompted public officials to declare a state of emergency in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Maine.  This case study will focus on the emergency response efforts in Massachusetts related to the cleanup of environmental impacts caused by the release of transformer oil (mineral oil dielectric fluid) contained within utility pole mounted transformers.  Mineral oil dielectric fluid (MODF) is a highly refined mineral oil which is stable at high temperature and has excellent insulating properties.  However, MODF does pose environmental risks and as a result, is regulated under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP, 310 CMR 40.0000).  Additionally, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were routinely used in oil-filled transformers well into the 1970’s.  Massachusetts regulations require the notification and remediation of MODF releases to the environment.  Reportable quantities, governing reporting requirements, and cleanup standards for MODF releases have been established based on the PCB content of the transformer oil.  The widespread nature of the storm damage caused a logistical nightmare when coordinating emergency response activities.  With over 100 reported releases of MODF, release sites were continually reevaluated to determine which posed the greatest threat to the environment, human health and public safety.  Prioritization of release sites was accomplished only after careful consideration of various factors, including the PCB concentration of the transformer oil, impacted environmental receptors (wetlands, surface water, private water supplies, etc.) and the accessibility of each release site.  In fact, accessibility may have proven to be the most crucial of factors when prioritizing cleanups, since many releases were not immediately discovered.

A New Way to Collect Household Hazardous Waste

John Grabs, P.G., Camp Dresser & McKee, 125 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 600, Chicago, IL  60606, USA, Tel: 312-780-7737, Fax: 312-346-5228, Email: grabsjc@cdm.com
Kevin Schnoes, P.G., Chicago Department of Environment, 30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60602, USA, Tel: 312-744-4034, Fax: 312-744-5272, Email: kschnoes@cityofchicago.org
Christopher Martel, P.E., BCEE, LEED AP, Camp Dresser & McKee, 125 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 600, Chicago, IL  60606, USA, Tel: 312-780-7777, Fax: 312-346-5228, Email: martelcm@cdm.com

The City of Chicago Household Chemical and Computer Recycling Facility (HCCRF) is a 24,000-square foot multipurpose waste collection and training facility that keeps household hazardous waste (HHW) and electronics out of municipal landfills, idling cars off the road, and ex-offenders off the streets.  Opened in October 2006 in a renovated animal incinerator building, it energizes Chicago’s sustainability initiatives.

As society becomes more environmentally aware, single-day HHW collection events are quite common.  However, the single day events are typically held only once or twice a year and result in upwards of a thousand cars idling in a queue to drop off HHW.  In addition to eliminating long lines of cars, a permanent drop facility with year-round hours dramatically increases participation as a result of increased convenience.  In the two years prior to opening, 17 single-day events were visited by an average of 5,726 residents per year.  Subsequently, the HCCRF has been visited by an average of 7,853 residents per year – without any significant advertising.

In addition, it is the nation’s first permanent HHW facility to significantly incorporate sustainable design concepts.  The facility is being registered to receive a LEED^TM certification.  Design components included energy-efficient mechanical, electrical, and plumbing; exceptional daylighting; solar wall technology that reduces heating costs by 20%; and a bioswale and green roof to limit storm water impacts to the adjacent Chicago River.  The green roof and light-reflective paving help to reduce the urban heat island effect.

The facility also includes a job training program for ex-offenders to test and dismantle computers for subsequent refurbishment and distribution to schools, non-profits, and need-based homes.  Trainees dismantle the computer components for reuse or local recycling with 85% of the value from recycled components returned to cover training costs.

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