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 27th
- Kidney Specialists of Savannah continues business as usual although that business is confined to the south end.
- The site access and egress continues to allow for the operation of the facility. PRP contractor mobile command post continues to be used to provide respite for extreme heat, improve communications capabilities, and augment logistical support.
- The OSC is allowing accompanied administrative access to the north side offices. Lumex readings of the doctor's office next to the 2 source areas indicate ATSDR attainment goals will likely be met when confirmation sampling is performed.
- The far corner of the northside attic continues to generate approximately 2000 ng/m3. Additional venting was installed through the gable.
- Additional screening was performed this morning in the source area. Immediately after shutting down the negative air system, ambient breathing zone levels were approximately 2500 ng/m3, but rose to almost 25000 ng/m3 within one hour. Several source locations were identified at floor level in both isolated rooms with readings spiking to over 40000 ng/m3 at several places.
- Continued demo and decon is taking place in the 2 source rooms. In coordination with the Savannah Fire Department, the PRP contractor propane flame heated the concrete floor in one of the source rooms while operating the negative air system. This work was done in modified level B with Nomex suits over Saranex with work schedules as appropriate considering heat stress restrictions. In addition, vinyl flooring is was removed from the exam source room using physical stripping methods. This action was conducted in Level C with the negative air system in operation.
- PRP contractor work times have shifted to 4am till 4pm in order to adjust to the extreme heat and minimize the risk of heat stress.
- Contaminated furniture and personal items that are currently staged in the large onsite tent undergoing passive venting are undergoing segregation and more aggressive decon and venting.
- The perimeter continued to be monitored for mercury vapors using the Lumex.
Due to the pressing nature of providing health care to kidney compromised patients, the OSC is providing oversite aimed at achieving acceptable air quality in the building while simultaneously isolating/containing and remediating the 2 source areas.
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