See Previous POLREPS
On September 10, 2003 at the request of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Protection, an emergency response removal commenced at the Hancock High School, Hancock
Co. VOTECH facility, and the Charles B. Murphy Elementary School located in Kiln, (Hancock County), Mississippi.
This action was conducted by the USEPA and it’s ERRS contractor, Ferguson Harbor Inc., an emergency purchase order contractor, United States Environmental Services, the START contractor(s) and USCG-GST personnel. USEPA, USCG-GST and the MSDEQ have been on-scene directing the response action.
Activities conducted during this emergency action included the initial baseline monitoring of Mercury levels using a Mercury analyzer in all areas suspected of being contaminated with Mercury. The subsequent decontamination of those identified areas was accomplished by using a specialized Mercury spill control product and a specially designed Mercury vacuum system. All clean up goals and decontamination protocols were successfully attained and carefully followed as prescribed within the Region IV, Mercury clean up guidance.
Three school district buses were also significantly contaminated with Mercury. Decontamination of the buses required the removal of all seats and flooring. After a thorough cleaning, all seats were wiped down and the rubber flooring discarded. All three buses were successfully cleaned.
A written request was sent to the school children’s parents asking them to turn in their child’s outer garments, shoes and book bags. Those items turned in were analyzed for Mercury. If Mercury levels exceeded EPA’s action level, those items were discarded and the parents notified by EPA officials requesting access to their home for additional monitoring. No private residence exceeded EPA’s action level although one child had elevated Hg levels in their blood. This is according to the Mississippi Dept. of Health who collected the child’s blood sample.
On 09/16/03, a final clean up de-briefing for Hancock County School officials was conducted by the OSC and the MSDEQ.
Final transportation and disposal is imminent. One 20 yd. roll-off box of Mercury contaminated debris will be transported to an appropriate TSD facility. Waste will be shipped as D009 hazardous waste.
FUTURE ACTIONS
Analytical results of Mercury contaminated waste associated with this clean up are complete. Bids for final disposal and transportation are currently being reviewed by OSC. After final transportation and disposal of the roll-off box, no further removal actions associated with this site are planned.
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