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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
B451 |
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Contract Number: |
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D.O. Number: |
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Action Memo Date: |
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Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Emergency |
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Response Lead: |
PRP |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
12/11/2009 |
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Start Date: |
12/11/2009 |
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Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
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FPN#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
Other - High School
1.1.2 Site Description
1.1.2.1 Location
Oglethorpe County High School is located in Lexington, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, approximately 20 miles east of Athens, GA (33.889 longitude, -83.138 latitude). The school services the entire county, with approximately 700 students. Oglethorpe County Middle School is attached to the high school. It is located in a rural area, with some commercial enterprises in the vicinity.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
On December 10, 2009, a student reportedly brought a copenhagen container full of elemental mercury to school. The material was spilled in a computer classroom. Elemental mercury is a naturally occurring metal which is a liquid at room temperature. Mercury is not readily absorbed into the human body by ingestion or touch, but it produces vapors at room temperature which can be harmful to human health if inhaled. Exposure to high levels of mercury vapor can cause damage to the brain, kidneys and lungs, and may cause severe damage to a developing fetus.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Not applicable due to emergency response.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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School Removal Activities Room 419: USES has collected all visible Mercury and began removing floor tiles. USES identified some cracks within the sub flooring with Mercury vapor readings above the EPA cleanup level. USES will use a sealant to encase the unreachable Mercury in place prior to final clearing of the room Room 421: USES wiped down all of the tables with CS102 solution, then removed the tables from the room and staged them on plastic sheeting in the parking lot outside. The source room and Room 421 where the computer equipment is staged are currently being vented. Room 510: USES has completed removal of affected floor tiles and contaminated debris and will use a sealant to encase any residual Mercury in place to begin clearance of room Student Screening No additional Student Screening took place during this reporting period Residential Screening A total of 13 homes have been screen to date (10 for this reporting period). Three additional homes still need screening. To date, 3 residents have denied access. Additional items have been collected from screened homes for personal clean-up activities. The source house was also screened during this reporting period by EPA and START. Initial reading upon opening the front were 50,000+ ug/m3. EPA and START back out and contacted EPA's phone duty officer to mobilize OSC Terry Stilman for additional support and to lead the assessment and potential clean-up activities at the house. Community outreach EPA, including the OSC, CIC and representatives from ATSDR and the Oglethorpe High School system held a press conference and an availability session from 6pm - 10pm for a question and answer session. Approximately 20 parents, including students, attended. START will be setting up and running 3 air sampled tonight at the source house. The samples take 8 hours and will be finished and processed in the morning.
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
- Assess extent of migration of mercury;
- Ensure safety of response and facility personnel;
- Conduct oversight of removal activities; and,
- Support removal activities with air monitoring and technical assistance where needed.
USES will continue remedial activities in room 419 and room 510
START will continue residential screening and start clearing personal items collected during the student and residential screening. START will also assist OSC Stilman in assessing and itemizing in the source house. The source house will become a new emergency response and will no longer be updated on this site. Website information for that site will be updated here when that information becomes available.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Potentially impacted houses will continue to be assessed for mercury vapor contamination.
The Environmental Clean-Up Contractor will continue to remediate the impacted areas.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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There are no logistical concerns for this response.
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2.4 Finance Section
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2.4.1 Narrative
The Oglethorpe County School System hired the clean-up contractor to conduct the remediation and will be responsible for the school clean up.
EPA has mobilized WRS to assist with the source house and reimbursable items from students and items from the residential screenings.
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Budgeted |
Total To Date |
Remaining |
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Extramural Costs
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$40,000.00 |
$24,427.71 |
$15,572.29 |
38.93% |
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Intramural Costs
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| Total Site Costs |
$40,000.00 |
$24,427.71 |
$15,572.29 |
38.93% |
* 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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2.5 Other Command Staff
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2.5.1 Safety Officer
EPA Removal Action Level for mercury vapors in schools is 3,000 ng/m3. Any areas with peak values over 3,000 ng/m3 are being remediated. Clearance will be conducted by monitoring selected locations with the Lumex for 6 consecutive hours.
EPA Removal Action Level for mercury vapors in private residences is 1,000 ng/m3.
EPA will conduct residential assessments if student's personal items are greater 4,000 ng/m3 or if the student came in contact with the Mercury, which was determined by the school nurse or during the interviews during the student screening.
All assessment activities were conducted in Level D PPE with booties and gloves. Protocal was in place to elevate to Level C PPE in the event that vapors in the breathing zone area exceeded 25,000 ng/mg. Any readings above 50,000 ng/m3 will require a back out and a PPE upgrade to Level B
2.6 Liaison Officer
The OSC is serving as the Liaison Officer in this response. To date, coordination has been between school and GEMA officials.
2.7 Information Officer
2.7.1 Public Information Officer
The CIC is serving as the PIO for this response. ATSDR fact sheets were provided to the school and potentially impacted families. The OSC, CIC and the school superintendent are working together to ensure that accurate and appropriate information is adequately communicated with the public.
2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
Community Involvement Coordinators, Sherryl Carbonaro
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
At this time no Unified Command exists. The school system hired a competent and able environmental contractor to perform the remediation. EPA is serving in an oversight and technical support role.
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Bob Safay and Rich Nickle from ATSDR mobilized to site this morning and provided on-site support during home assessments and during the availability session.
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4. Personnel On Site
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EPA OSC (2) EPA CIC (2) ATSDR (2)
START Contractor TetraTech EMI, Inc. (6)
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5. Definition of Terms
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No information available at this time.
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6. Additional sources of information
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No information available at this time.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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POLREP #3 Last Updated 12/16/2009
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