Vanquish Worldwide Continues Support in Fifth Year of Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 Contract

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Vanquish Worldwide continues to provide support to the Environment Protection Agency Region 10 in its fifth year of performance on the federal contract.

Under the five-year contract, Vanquish provides emergency response facility management and technical coordination of emergency and counter terrorism response equipment at three EPA facilities – Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, and Anchorage, AK.

Vanquish continuously strives for excellence with rapid response, efficient operations and asset tracking solutions.

Our expert team of equipment technicians deliver continual support in order to ensure EPA personnel can immediately respond to any emergency or terrorism event within the Region 10 boundaries. The EPA Region 10 boundary includes Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

Vanquish continues to support the EPA’s rapid response contracting networking by maintaining equipment and supplies in a continuous state of readiness, so personnel can immediately respond to threats caused by oil and hazardous substance incidents, plus threats related to terrorist attacks or weapons of mass destruction.

The multi-million dollar federal contract between Vanquish and the EPA was initiated in May 2013. Vanquish provides a host of on-site services as part of the contract, including warehouse facilities operation and management, inventory control and asset tracking system management, 24/7 emergency response equipment management and equipment maintenance.

Recent examples of work completed by Vanquish Worldwide at emergency response sites include:

River Street Warehouse Fire – Portland, OR
In May 2017, a fire broke out at a warehouse located on the northern bank of the Willamette River in Portland, OR. No one was injured in the fire. The building, constructed on wood pilings and situated partly over the river, had a history of safety and other violations. In addition, the building owner had no insurance on the property and

did not have the financial resources to address the situation.

Wind-blown ash and debris was found southwest of the river in a densely populated residential area consisting of mostly multi-story buildings. EPA continued to provide oversight to cleanup activities, including air monitoring, through February 2018.

Seaside Vapor Intrusion – Seaside, OR
On Feb. 5, 2018, residents of a rental home near Seaside, OR were evacuated after they had been complaining of upper respiratory health issues and noxious vapors in their neighborhood. EPA conducted a site assessment, air monitoring and air sampling activities around the home and neighborhood. Vapors inside and underneath the home were consistent with gasoline and automotive fuels. An adjacent residence is believed to be the source of the vapors from unauthorized car repair and activities including washing car parts, automotive fluids, gasoline and oil spills. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ).

Villa Bonita Apartments Mercury Spill

In June 2017, the EPA received notification of a mercury spill in an apartment unit in Kirkland, WA as a result of a broken thermometer. It was reported that the tenants had taken some action to clean up the spill, but due to concerns that these actions may have spread the contamination, language barriers and other gaps in information, the EPA mobilized an On-Scene Coordinator and three START contractors to conduct an assessment of the spill.
The EPA conducted the assessment and provided oversight of removal of impacted carpet and elemental mercury. The EPA provided recommendations to the tenants with regards to proper waste disposal, and remained available for additional assistance throughout the disposal process.

Gorst Creek Bremerton Auto Wrecking Landfill – Bremerton, WA
The Gorst Creek Bremerton Auto Wrecking Landfill (GCL) Site, a former landfill site near Port Orchard in Kitsap County, WA that operated as a landfill from the 1950s until 1989, primarily received auto wrecking wastes but also received other wastes, such as medical waste from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard as well as demolition debris and municipal solid waste.

EPA provided oversight during evaluation and removal actions during 2016 and 2017, including ongoing air monitoring, radiation surveys and personal monitoring to assure safe working conditions during removal actions. Removal actions included removing the contents of the landfill and transferring them to a secure off-site facility.