The Site, Kidney Specialist of Savannah Clinic, is a business housed within a single story, brick building located at 500 E 66th Street, Savannah, GA. Geographical coordinates for the Site are North Latitude 32.03029 x West Longitude -81.09736. In response to NRC Report #874319, and at the request of Savannah Fire Departments' Hazardous Materials Division (Hazmat), EPA mobilized to the clinic to provide air monitoring at the incident involving the release of elemental mercury inside the clinic. The release originated from a Sphygmomanometer. Savannah Hazmat, first responder to the Site, recovered and staged the mercury but lacked the specialized equipment needed to provide adequate screening for mercury vapors.
June 23rd
- The PRP was escorted in the south side for administrative business functions. START continuously monitored for mercury vapors using the Lumex to assure acceptable air quality.
- Polyvinyl barriers continued to be maintained separating the north and south parts of the building.
- Changes were made to upgrade the isolation/containment system for the 2 source rooms while further source removal operations continued. In order to overcome the degrading effects of heat, humidity and constant vacuum pressure, a plywood and expansion foam seal barrier was constructed to separate the 2 source rooms from the rest of the north half of the building. In addition, the polyvinyl sealed negative air pressure vacuum structure used to vent the 2 source rooms was replaced by a plywood structure. The structure has a filtered vent to allow fresh air to enter the 2 source rooms, an exit port for the double lined negative air vacuum exhaust tube and is hinged to allow access and egress for the remaining source removal work. The exhaust tube discharges 3000 to 4000 ng/m3 on a continuous basis. Work to be performed in the 2 source rooms is continuing to be performed in level B. Lower wall continues to exceed 100,000ng/m3 so further demolition is needed.
- The contractor conducted a more detailed mercury vapor Lumex screening of the north section outside the 2 source rooms in order to verify the absence of overlooked sources. Having conducted this screening, the contractor then installed a negative air pressure vacuum to vent the residual air and allow fresh air intake through an opened window. This system currently vents approximately 200 ng/m3. Future residual cleanup in the north section outside of the source rooms is expected to be performed in level D.
- The perimeter continued to be monitored for mercury vapors using the Lumex.
Working towards achievement of less than 1000 ng/m3 in breathing air throughout the building before allowing normal operations at the clinic.
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