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Type of facility or Site: Public High School
Actions Taken: EPA OSC was initially notified of subject event from NC Division of Emergency Management (Rich Berman) area coordinator on 8/8/03 at noon. Spill occurred as a result of contractor renovations inside a chemistry lab at subject location. Apparently a barometer was broken causing 1-3 lbs of elemental mercury to spill onto tables and the floor. The local haz-mat team responded and successfully overpacked the barometer and residual obvious mercury. The room was secured pending EPA arrival and clearance.
EPA arrived on site in early afternoon of 8/8 and met with school, county and state officials. School had contracted with local environmental clean up contractor (P&F Enviro) who was awaiting direction from OSC. OSC informed all parties that highly sensitive air monitoring equipment was needed and that it was enroute from a nearby
Superfund site. It was agreed that all parties would reconvene on site early on Saturday, 8/9/03.
8/9/03 - Chemistry lab was heated to 88F. Lumex and Jerome instrumentation both confirmed elevated airborne mercury levels greater than 30,000ng/m3. P&F was directed by OSC to perform massive cleanup throughout room including the removal of sink traps and focused cleaning along sinks, baseboards and other crevices where liquid mercury may reside. P&F worked entire weekend (8/9 and 8/10). START contractor returned early on 8/11/03 prior to school activities. Airborne levels had dropped measurably to below 2000 - 3000ng/m3. Based on these readings with both Lumex and Jerome MVAs, the OSC determined that occupancy was now allowable. OSC referred to EPA-IV SOP for mercury cleanup operations for schools. These cleanup numbers meet the SOP guidance.
Final report from START contractor with documented pre and post air monitoring levels is available upon request.
CONTACTS
NAME AGENCY/ORG PHONE NUMBER ROLE
Charlie Fitzsimmons US EPA R4 (919) 541-1939 FOSC
Rich Berman NCDEM (919) 575-4122 State
Gordon Deno Wilson Cty EM (252) 237-8300 County
None by EPA. P&F Enviro will replace all sink traps with new ones.
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