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2.1.1 Narrative
The resident describes that two of the children in the household discovered elemental mercury in the mowed grass field adjacent to their house on 5/24/2011. The children picked up and played with the mercury, then brought some in their hands to one of the residents standing near the house, where their hands were the mercury was wiped from their hands into the grass. They were then washed off in the bathroom sink and the residents contacted 911. The Inman FD responded and quarantined the outdoor areas where mercury was spilled.Three children were transported to the hospital in 2 ambulances and were released home that evening.
OSC Huyser arrived to the scene at 0700hrs on 5/25 to screen the two children that had played with the mercury prior to their departure for school.Since the children had left at approximately 0630 hrs, the resident accompanied OSC Huyser to Inman Elementary School where the two children were brought to the school’s nurse office and their clothes and shoes were screened with a mercury vapor analyzer. All clothing and shoes showed mercury vapor readings below 200 ng/m3 except for one shoe which exceeded 1000 ng/m3. The father provided an alternate pair of shoes and the children returned to class.No further activities were necessary at the school.
START contractor, OTIE, arrived to the scene at 0830 and conducted an initial screening of the home. Mercury vapor readings in the home during the initial screening averaged 1500-2500 ng/m3; under conditions where the air conditioner was operating and occupants were entering and exiting. The owner was informed to immediately open all windows.START completed a full screen of the house by closing the windows and doors of each room individually. Hotspots ranging from 4000-8000 ng/m3 were identified in the front entrance (“mud room”), the bathroom, and the laundry room. Suspect contaminated items included several shoes,some clothing, rugs, sink drains, and washer+dryer.
ERRS arrived on the morning of 5/25 and began making preparations for removal activities.
START screened four vehicles on 5/25.Vapor levels in excess of 2500 ng/m3 were found on the car seat where one of the children who played in the mercury had sat on 5/24. The window of the car was open and the car was left in the sun; at the end of the day, readings in the seat were reduced to below 500 ng/m3. Vapor levels in the cargo area of a utility van used by the owner of 146 Babb Road for a contracting business were approximately 300 ng/m3; all other vehicles had readings that were equivalent to outdoor/background levels.
SCDHEC returned to the site on 5/25 and contacted local utilities to identify buried lines on both properties in the areas where excavation would occur. Markings were completed for water, power, and communications by 5/25. SCDHEC also contacted Duke Power to send a representative and discuss potential issues regarding the overhead high voltage transmission lines. The representative met with EPA and the homeowner and also shared that there was no material/property in the line or survey/repair equipment that would have a mercury source.
EPA and SCDHEC contacted the local responders who were at the property on 5/24 to schedule a screening of the shoes and vehicles. Two ambulances and 4 responders visited thesite on 5/25 for screening; no elevated levels of mercury vapor were found onany vehicles or items that were screened.
EPA discussed required removal activities with the owner at 146 Babb Road and determined that the family would be unable to safely occupy the building while removal activities were being conducted.ERRS provided for lodging for the family (3 adults, 10 children under 12, 1 child of age 12) at a local hotel and provided the appropriate sum of per-diem to the family. ERRS began cleanup activities by removing materials from the hotspot rooms and placing them outside to ventilate. The floor of the front entrance “mud room” was decontaminated with mercury binding solution and left to ventilate. The washer was allowed to run with several cups of the solution. The dryer was allowed to run empty. The home was then heated and ventilated.
During removal activities, START completed screening of the backyard which contained several sheds and storage areas. START screened 4 sheds, 2 storage trailers, a sauna building, several wood piles, playground equipment, lawn maintenance equipment, and various tools. No elevated levels of mercury were found in any of the buildings and only a shovel and hammer were identified as having been contaminated (the shovel was known to be used in digging up the mercury from the ground). START also completed delineation of ground contamination in the mowed lawn where the mercury was discovered. An overturned plastic bin with a hole cut for the instrument intake was utilized to collect vapor readings from the ground and remove interference from wind. Readings of the contaminated area ranged from 2000 ng/m3 to excess of 100,000 ng/m3.Readings near the area where most of the mercury was spilled exceeded18,000 ng/m3 without the wind-protection device. A contaminated area of approximately 1,200 ft2 was identified in the field with another area of approximately 100 ft2 adjacent to house. In order to bind the mercury as much as possible prior to excavation, dry HgX decontamination powder was spread on the outdoor contaminated areas with a landscaping drop spreader. The area was then wetted with a hose sprayer to activate the powder.
The home was heated and vented at 90 deg-F and left overnight. A security guard was hired for the night of 5/25.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
The Inman FD responded and quarantined the outdoor areas where mercury was spilled. OSC Huyser screened the two children that had played with the mercury while at school. START conducted an initial and a full screen of the house, screened four vehicles, 4 sheds, 2 storage trailers, a sauna building, several wood piles, playground equipment, lawn maintenance equipment, and various tools. START also completed delineation of ground contamination in the mowed lawn where the mercury was discovered. Dry HgX decontamination powder was spread on the outdoor contaminated areas and wetted to activate the powder.
EPA and SCDHEC contacted the local responders who were at the property on 5/24; two ambulances and 4 responders visited the site on 5/25 for screening.
ERRS decontaminated the floor of the front entrance with mercury binding solution. The washer was allowed to run with several cups of the solution. The dryer was allowed to run empty. The home was then heated and ventilated overnight.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
EPA informed the owner that a cleanup would likely be necessary, informed the owner of potential liability, and provided the owner with an opportunity to conduct the cleanup. The owner determined that EPA should conduct the cleanup and provided EPA with home insurance information. The owner was provided with a Notice of Federal Interest Letter and EPA obtained Access Agreements from the owners at 146 Babb Road and 136 Babb Road. Homeowners Insurance information was also collected.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
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