All members of the response team will exercise extreme caution when handling any unknown chemicals. Levels of personal protective equipment will range from level D to level B. 

All members of the response team will be cognizant of slips, trips, and falls as well as cold and wind related stressors.

All members of the response team have the authority to stop all work should something hazardous arise that requires further planning and investigation before continuing. 

The objectives of this response are:

1. Ensure safety of public and response crews in all removal efforts.

2. Collect, contain, sample and Hazard Classify the wastes present at both properties at the Site.

2. Use hazard classification information to determine what method of disposal is necessary.

3. Consolidate wastes in preparation for final disposal.

4. Properly dispose of wastes.

5. Provide timely, accurate and transparent communication with public and all other stakeholders.

The objectives during this operational period (January 6- January 10) are as follows:

1. Mobilize crews and equipment to site

2. Account for and inventory all containers of waste at both properties.

3. Sample and Hazard Classify all containers of waste at both properties.

4. Organize and consolidate compatible wastes in preparation for final disposal.

During this operational period (January 6- January 10), the Removal Team mobilized both personnel and equipment to the site.

The largest effort during this period was sampling all containers. Because the containers were holding unknown wastes, the EPA START contractor suited up in Level B personal protective equipment in order to safely pull samples. Samples were successfully pulled from all containers, excluding approximately 20 which hold frozen or otherwise un-sampleable waste. These containers will be addressed in the following operational period.

Additionally, approximately 60% of all wastes have been hazard classified. The remaining wastes will undergo hazard classification in the following operational period. Hazard classification (HazClass) is the process of putting a sample of each waste through a series of tests to identify chemical properties. This informs the removal team on the level of threat the waste imposes and how best to dispose of the waste.

Based on the HazClass results thus far, the EPA Removal Team initiated an Emergency Response to begin disposal operations. Before initiating the Emergency Response, the Removal Team was conducting the operation as an assessment only.

The HazClass results have also allowed the EPA ERRS contractor to begin the process of consolidating or "bulking" wastes to minimize the amount of containers that will be sent for final disposal.

The Removal Team has been working hand in hand with the Grand Junction Fire Department, Grand Junction Police Department, and Lower Valley Fire Protection District. These local partners have assisted with filling air bottles for the level B personal protective equipment and with disposing of explosive materials.

The objectives during this operational period (January 11- January 17) are as follows:

1. Finish sampling the few remaining waste containers (the containers yet to be sampled are frozen or otherwise proving difficult to sample).

2. Finish Hazard Classifying sampled wastes.

3. Finish organizing and consolidating/bulking compatible wastes in preparation for final disposal.

During this operational period (January 11-17), the Removal Team finished sampling all remaining containers, including the frozen ones that needed thawing. In order to do this, the frozen containers were placed in a heated shed over the course of a few days until thawed, after which the EPA START contractor took samples for HazClassing.

After all samples were collected, the Removal Team finished HazClassing all samples taken. This allowed the team to then sort and stage the waste on site into like-groups. Staging in this way expedites the disposal process once the waste broker arrives at site for final off-site disposal.

The team worked in conjunction with local fire departments to dispose of three 250 gallon totes on site as well. These totes were full of chemicals that were deemed unsafe to take off site due to their flammability and tendency to degrade quickly into a shock sensitive state. With help from the Grand Junction Fire Department, Grand Junction Police Department, and Lower Valley Fire Protection District, the Team was able to safely burn these totes on site. 

The Removal Team demobilized from the site on Wednesday, January 15. The wastes at both properties are staged by classification for final disposal and away from the public.

Final disposal for wastes left on site is currently pending, the EPA Removal Team is  coordinating a waste broker to receive the waste.

Coordinating the final disposal of wastes for the Grand Junction Solvents site has undergone delays due to a variety of factors outside the EPA's control. 

As of October 13th, EPA and it's contractors have secured waste facilities capable of accepting the waste and are scheduled to oversee final disposal activities the week of October 20th.

The objectives for this upcoming operational period (October 20-24) are as follows:

1. Safely mobilize EPA response team and contractors to site.

2. Consolidate all waste to one property.

3. Oversee the final disposal pick ups for all waste streams (flammable/ combustible waste, non-remarkables, corrosives, and RCRA empties).

4. Demobilize from site and conclude on-scene operations.

During this operational period (October 20-24) the Removal Team removed all waste from the site.

The team arrived on Sunday, October 19 and began operations on Monday morning, October 20. The beginning of the work started with delays due to road closures from weather which prevented equipment deliveries from arriving on time. The team split in half, with one team overseeing the removal of waste and the other team working to consolidate all waste to one property.

By the end of the day on Tuesday October 21st all waste was in place at the property near Loma, and the property near Appleton Elementary was cleared. On that same day, much of the hazardous waste was removed from site.

The remaining hazardous waste and nearly all nonhazardous waste was removed on Wednesday, October 22.

The remaining nonhazardous waste was removed on Thursday, October 23. After all waste was removed, the team worked to consolidated the empty containers (drums and totes) into dumpsters.

The team recycled 5 dumpsters of aluminum metal and filled 4 other dumpsters with landfill waste (empty containers, trash, etc.).

On Friday, October 24 the EPA Response Team tidied up the site and demobilized the crew. This concludes site operations for the site.