U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Sycamore Point Mercury - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IV
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Subject:
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POLREP #4
Apache Trail Continues/Cove Road Cleared
Sycamore Point Mercury
Woodstock, GA
Latitude: 34.1514970 Longitude: -84.5619190
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To:
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From:
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Stephen Ball, OSC
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Date:
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3/7/2015
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Reporting Period:
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3/4/15 - 3/7/15
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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: |
2/23/2015 |
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Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Emergency |
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Response Lead: |
EPA |
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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: |
2/18/2015 |
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Start Date: |
2/18/2015 |
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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
Emergency Response to an uncontrolled release of elemental Mercury.
1.1.2 Site Description
See POLREP #1
1.1.2.1 Location
See POLREP #1
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
See POLREP #1
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
See POLREP #1
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
03/04/2015
Apache Trail
Basement Screening Levels and Removal Activities:
• Item removal from the mother-in-law suite was nearly completed today. Item removal from the garage was 80% completed today. Most bagged items contained mercury vapor concentrations of greater than 50,000 ng/m3 at a temperature around 60 degrees. Most items are being disposed of, but high value and/or sentimental items are being set aside to discuss disposal with the resident.
• Morning screening levels throughout the mother-in-law suite are between 50,000 and 90,000 ng/m3 at a temperature of 550 with ventilation through 3 open windows. Two negative air machines were brought in during the day to increase ventilation throughout the basement.
• Levels throughout the garage were ~135,000 ng/m3 with with the garage door open and a large fan blowing fresh air in.
• Mercury vacuum filters and bags were replaced this morning to reduce potential vapors. After being cleaned the vacuum exhaust port screened ~116,000 ng/m3.
Upstairs Screening Levels and Removal Activities:
• Morning entry indicated mercury concentrations throughout the upstairs between 150,000 and 200,000 ng/m3 with windows open all night but no active ventilation. This is an increase from previous levels and may indicate vapors from downstairs infiltrating through the floor because there is no vapor barrier between the floors. Yesterday, readings from the basement, between the drop ceiling and the upstairs joists showed mercury levels of 226,000 ng/m3.
• Removal of a small number of “hotspot items” occurred upstairs. These items will be slated for disposal.
• Box fans will be placed in the windows in the morning to aid ventilation and reduce levels upstairs.
Item Decontamination Activities:
• The heat tent was active all day but no items were screened because there is space in the tent and all items are similarly contaminated.
• Over 200 bags of items have been removed and inventoried.
Road and Driveway Removal Activities:
• A test area of the road was covered with sulfur and agitated with a push broom to eliminate visual contamination and elevated vapors. The test area was mildly successful but appears to be too onerous to cover the entire area. There is also a concern that the sulfur powder will not be fully recovered from the road and will leave a yellow coloring.
Community Involvement Activities:
• No activities this period.
510 Cove Rd
• After heating and venting last night Mercury vapor levels inside the residence fluctuated between 2-3,000 ng/m3.
• Clearance testing began around 1400 and was successfully completed at 1900 hrs. A summary of the results is located in the documents section of this webpage.
03/05/2015
Apache Trail
Basement Screening Levels and Removal Activities:
• Item removal from the mother-in-law suite was completed today. Items remaining in the garage include household paints and some larger furniture. Most bagged items are still reading greater than 50,000 ng/m3 at a temperature of around 45 degrees. Most items are being disposed of, but high value and/or sentimental items are being set aside to discuss disposal with the resident.
• Morning screening levels throughout the mother-in-law suite were between 145,000 and 160,000 ng/m3 at a temperature of 55 degrees with ventilation through three open windows. The two negative air machines were operational throughout the night.
• Levels throughout the garage were ~90,000 ng/m3 with with the garage door open and a large fan blowing fresh air in.
• During item removal in the mother in law suite a Jerome reading of 700,000 ng/m3 was detected. All work was stopped and workers exited the work area immediately to allow air concentrations to vent. Then sulfur was applied to the floor throughout the mother in law suite and HgX was applied to the walls throughout the area to attempt to limit vapor generation. Air concentrations were reduced to 50,000 ng/m3. All remaining items were removed from the mother in law suite at that point.
• The sulfur was vacuumed from the floor and a plan for tile removal was developed.
• Baseboards were removed and the area under the baseboards was treated with sulfur and vacuumed. Elemental Mercury was observed under the baseboards.
• Ambient levels after the HgX and sulfur application remained under 60,000 ng/m3 between lunch and the end of the day.
Upstairs Screening Levels and Removal Activities:
• Morning entry indicated mercury concentrations throughout the upstairs between 4,000 and 9,000 ng/m3 with windows open all night but no active ventilation. it is believed that the negative air machines downstairs helped pull vapors down from the top level.
• No other entries were made to the upstairs today.
Item Decontamination Activities:
• The heat tent was active all day but no items were screened because we have space in the tent and all items are similarly contaminated.
• Over 300 bags of items have been removed and inventoried.
Road and Driveway Removal Activities:
• No activities today
Community Involvement Activities:
• OSC Ball and CIC Neema Atashi are preparing a neighborhood fact sheet to inform neighbors of the plan for the road cleanup and update on the response.
• A neighbor was concerned of mercury contamination on her boat dock. OSC Ball and START investigated the dock and found no evidence of contamination.
• One vehicle was screened and mercury vapor concentrations were approximately 4,000 ng/m3.
510 Cove Rd:
• No activities today
03/06/2015
Apache Trail
Basement Screening Levels and Removal Activities:
• Removal of garage items was completed today except for the refrigerator and some household hazardous waste. Most bagged items are still reading greater than 50,000 ng/m3 at a temperature around 45 degrees. Most items are being disposed of, but high value and/or sentimental items are being set aside to discuss disposal with the resident.
• Morning screening levels throughout the mother-in-law suite were between 20,000 and 25,000 ng/m3 at a temperature of 35 to 40 degrees and ventilation through three windows. The negative air machines were operational throughout the night.
• Levels throughout the garage were ~30,000 ng/m3 prior to opening the garage in the morning.
• The bar and a wooden ledge were removed from the mother in law suite after being vacuumed to remove visible mercury beads.
• Floor tile removal began. During removal, mercury was discovered in puddles (3-4 tablespoons) behind the tiles under the wall. Mercury was removed via syringe and mercury vacuum. Tile removal is on-going.
Upstairs Screening Levels and Removal Activities:
• Morning entry indicated mercury concentrations throughout the upstairs between 18,000 and 20,000 ng/m3 with the HVAC running through the night to ensure no pipes would freeze with the cold temperatures overnight.
• EPA hosted a site visit with 4 ATSDR representatives and discussed options for cleanup of the micro beads throughout the flooring in the upstairs as well as clean-up operations as a whole.
Item Decontamination Activities:
• The heat tent was active all day but no items were screened because we have space in the tent and all items are similarly contaminated.
• 372 bags of items have been removed and inventoried from the basement/garage area. Inventory is complete downstairs.
Road and Driveway Removal Activities:
• A test area of the road was covered with zinc amalgamation powder and lightly agitated and distributed with a broom, followed by aggressive vacuuming with a wide thin blade attachment. Multiple beads were removed with this method and it appears to be efficient and effective enough for large scale implementation next week.
Community Involvement Activities:
• No community involvement activities during this period.
510 Cove Rd:
• ERRS will meet with the carpet contractor at 8 am on 03/07/2015 to measure the house and prepare to install new carpet next week.
03/07/2015
Apache Trail
*Today OSC Ball transitioned the site to OSC Eichinger.
Basement Screening Levels and Removal Activities:
• The household hazardous waste products, mostly paint related materials, were removed from the garage and set aside for later disposal or return to the owner.
• Morning screening levels throughout the mother-in-law suite were between 20,000 and 25,000 ng/m3 at a temperature of 30 to 35 degrees and ventilation through three open windows. The two negative air machines were operational throughout the night.
• Levels throughout the garage were ~30,000 ng/m3 prior to opening the garage in the morning.
• All floor tiles were removed. During removal, another puddle of mercury was discovered (3-4 tablespoons) behind the tiles under the wall. Mercury was removed via syringe and mercury vacuum. The false wall near the breaker box was removed as was dry wall along the bottom 2 inches of the play room.
• Following floor tile removal Sulfur and HgX were applied to the floor and HgX was applied to the walls.
• Sulfur was applied to the garage floor, swept around, and vacuumed up. HgX was applied to the garage walls.
Upstairs Screening Levels and Removal Activities:
• Morning entry indicated mercury concentrations throughout the upstairs between 18,000 and 20,000 ng/m3 with the HVAC running through the night to ensure no pipes would freeze with the cold temperatures overnight.
• No other entries were made upstairs today. However, a heat tent and item containment was constructed on the back porch to facilitate item removal from the upstairs beginning tomorrow.
Item Decontamination Activities:
• The heat tent was active all day. All items screened remained greater than 50,000 ng/m3 in the tent.
• Nearly 400 bags of items have been removed and inventoried from the basement/garage area.
Road and Driveway Removal Activities:
• No road cleanup operations were completed during this period.
Community Involvement Activities:
• No community involvement activities during this period.
510 Cove Rd:
• ERRS met the carpet installer this morning to measure the area for carpet. The carpet will be installed on Tuesday. This timeframe was approved by the renter and he expressed a desire to move some furniture and items out of the way to expedite the process.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
| Mercury waste |
solid |
4 rolloff |
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Landfill |
| Mercury waste |
soild |
10 drums |
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Landfill |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Continue clean-up actions at contaminated homes
Continue CIC coordination with community
Continue to coordinate access at additional properties
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Continue clean-up activities
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
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
EPA
GA EPD
GA Dept of Public Health
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Cherokee County Schools
American Red Cross
ATSDR
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4. Personnel On Site
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OSC - 2
START - 3
ERRS - 6
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5. Definition of Terms
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ATSDR - Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry
EPA - Environmental Protection Agency
OSC - On- Scene Coordinator
GA EPD - Georgia Environmental Protection Division
NCP - National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan
NRC - National Response Center
CFR - Code of Federal Regulations
RP - Responsible Party
NOFI - Notice of Federal Interest
EMA - Emergency Management Agency
ERRS - Emergency Rapid Response Service
CERCLA - Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
FPN - Federal Project Number
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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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