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United
States Environmental Protection Agency
Region IV
POLLUTION REPORT
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| Date: |
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
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| From: |
Chris Russell
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| To: |
Chris Russell, EPA
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Kevin Misenheimer, EPA
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Bob Bittinger, EPA
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Terry Stilman, EPA
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Matt Taylor, Emergency Response Section
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Shane Hitchcock, EPA
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Carl Terry, EPA
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Jose Negron, ERRB
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Ben Franco, ERRB
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Subject:
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Final POLREP
Oak Grove Elementary Mercury Spill
3801 Wake Forest Hwy,
Durham, NC
Latitude: 35.9814000
Longitude: -78.8208000
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| POLREP No.: |
4
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Site #:
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A4LS
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| Reporting Period: |
06/03/2006 - 8/29/2006
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D.O. #:
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| Start Date: |
5/24/2006
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Response Authority:
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CERCLA
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Mob Date: |
5/24/2006
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Response Type:
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Emergency
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| Demob Date: |
8/23/2006
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NPL Status:
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Non NPL
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| Completion Date: |
8/23/2006
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Incident Category:
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Removal Action
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| CERCLIS ID #: |
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Contract #
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| RCRIS ID #: |
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On the evening of May 23, 2006, a parent noticed elemental mercury on their child's clothes. In turn, the parent contacted the Poison Control Center for advice. The Poison Control Center then contacted the Durham County Public Health Department (DCPHD), which immediately started an investigation into the source of the mercury. DCPHD discovered that an individual had stolen approximately 10 pounds of elemental mercury and that this individual had taken the mercury to a Church service and dispersed it to four children. At least one of these children took the mercury to the Oak Grove Elementary School and proceeded to "spray" other kids, the school bus, etc. with the mercury. On May 24th, Ms. Luanne Williams, Toxicologist, NC State Health Dept. contacted EPA Region 4 and requested assistance with the investigation and cleanup of the mercury contamination. EPA assessed and monitored 27 separate locations (25 residences, 1 Church, 1 School). Of the 27 locations, 18 sites needed active removal actions (including the school and Church), ranging from the removal of contaminated clothes, to the removal of floors, walls, etc.
EPA worked in a Unified Command with the Durham County Emergency Management Agency, and the Durham County Public Health Department. Durham PD, Durham County Sheriff’s Office, State of NC EMA, and the NC State Health Dept. also integrated into the established ICS structure.
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All mercury contaminated wastes have been properly disposed of. The last load of waste was removed on 8/23/06. The "free" elemental mercury was reclaimed and recycled.
The hotwash with the Local and State responders was held the week of 8/21/06.
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Removal actions are complete.
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Budgeted |
Total To Date |
Remaining |
% Remaining |
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Extramural Costs
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| ERRS - Cleanup Contractor |
$150,000.00 |
$81,000.00 |
$69,000.00 |
46.00% |
| IAGs |
$20,000.00 |
$20,000.00 |
$0.00 |
0.00% |
| RST/START |
$80,000.00 |
$70,000.00 |
$10,000.00 |
12.50% |
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Intramural Costs
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| Total Site Costs |
$250,000.00 |
$171,000.00 |
$79,000.00 |
31.60% |
* The above accounting of expenditures is an estimate based on figures known to the OSC at the time this report was written. The OSC does not necessarily receive specific figures on final payments made to any contractor(s). Other financial data which the OSC must rely upon may not be entirely up-to-date. The cost accounting provided in this report does not necessarily represent an exact monetary figure which the government may include in any claim for cost recovery.
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ERRS contractor CMC, Inc. sub-contracted the disposal of all mercury contaminated wastes to EQ Environmental. Mercury contaminated items were disposed of at Michigan Disposal Services in Bellville, Michigan.
The "free" elemental mercury was reclaimed and recycled.
Disposal costs were less than $10,000.
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| Waste Stream |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Disposal Facility |
| Mercury Contaminated Material |
One roll-off |
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Michigan Disposal Services (EQ)
Bellville, Michigan. |
response.epa.gov/oakgrove
POLREP #4 Last Updated 8/29/2006
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