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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
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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: |
3/20/2014 |
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Start Date: |
3/20/2014 |
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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
Release of hazardous substance (elemental mercury) inside a school
1.1.2 Site Description
1.1.2.1 Location
Hood Junior High School - 601 E. 38th Street, Odessa, Texas 79762
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
EPA Region 6 was contacted by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) as well as the Texas Department of State Health Services on March 18, 2014, regarding a release of approximately 1 liquid ounce of elemental mercury inside Hood Junior High School in Odessa, Texas.
Early reports on the release indicated that a student found the mercury in a bottle near the school and he brought it inside the school where he shared it with other classmates. Once school administrators recognized that the students were playing with mercury, the exposed students were isolated from the rest of the students then sent by school bus to two local hospitals.
The school district has hired local hazmat contractors to conduct a cleanup of the school. Early assessment activities conducted appear to indicate that the contamination is limited to two classrooms and the cafeteria.
An EPA On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) as well as two START personnel mobilized to the school on March 20th to provide assistance to the school district and the Ector County Health District.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
Upon arrival, EPA met with Ector County Independent School District (ECISD) officials and their contractors to evaluate response actions to date. Allied International Emergency and CTEH have been contracted by ECISD to remediate Hood Junior High School. While clean-up activities are ongoing, students are attending class at the nearby Technical High School. EPA continues to conduct oversight and further investigate any possible spread of the mercury into the surrounding community by students who were potentially exposed.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
Contractors for ECISD continue clean up activities. Along with heating and venting, a 10x10 section of flooring has been removed in the cafeteria to facilitate reduction of ambient mercury levels.
Further heating and venting of classrooms has also been ongoing throughout the day on March 23rd.
Working in cooperation with the clean-up contractor, the shoes of students along with their school lockers have been monitored for possible contamination.
EPA has completed a separate but coordinated sweep of the entire school using a Lumex mercury monitor. A janitor's closet adjacent to the cafeteria was further investigated. The room contained a floor sink and mops used by janitorial staff to clean the cafeteria floor after the mercury was spilled. Elevated mercury vapors were detected. Contract workers filled the basin with concrete to seal any mercury vapors.
The south hallway of the school has been mopped with vinegar and water and will be further remediated using mercury binding agent tonight. PPE shoe covers continue to indicate contamination is present in the hallways,cafeteria, and at lease two classrooms.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
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Treatment |
Disposal |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
ECISD Contractors will continue to remediate affected areas using mercury binding agents in efforts to prevent cross-contamination of affected surfaces onto the shoes and clothing of returning students.
An 8 hour sampling event of the ambient air of the affected areas is planed for the 24th. In addition, after additional remediation, activity based monitoring will take place to represent the normal activities of students in the school to establish the risk of cross contamination and possible spread of any remaining mercury.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Ongoing efforts will continue to ensure the mercury contamination has not been spread by students evacuated from the school into their place of residence.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
EPA will continue to coordinate with officials from the Ector County Independent School District to ensure proper remediation of Hood Junior High School.
2.2.2 Issues
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2.3 Logistics Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.4 Finance Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.5 Other Command Staff
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No information available at this time.
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Ector County Independent School District
Ector County Health Department
Texas Department of State Health Services
TCEQ - Midland District
U.S. EPA
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Weston Solutions, Inc.
Allied International Emergency Services
Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, LLC (CTEH)
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4. Personnel On Site
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No information available at this time.
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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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