U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Lincoln Elementary Mercury Response - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V
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Subject:
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POLREP #1
Initial
Lincoln Elementary Mercury Response
Green Bay, WI
Latitude: 44.5226492 Longitude: -88.0401132
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To:
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From:
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Kathy Halbur, OSC
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Date:
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12/7/2016
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Reporting Period:
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12/6/2016
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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 |
Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
12/6/2016 |
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Start Date: |
12/6/2016 |
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
1.1.2 Site Description & Description of Threat
On
December 6, 2016, teachers at Lincoln Elementary School, 105 S. Buchanan, in Green Bay (Brown
County), WI discovered that students were playing with a vial of mercury. Teachers notified authorities of the spilled
mercury. Interviews
revealed that siblings also took the mercury vial to Franklin Middle School,
1233 Lore Lane in Green Bay. The home of the students who brought the mercury to school was also impacted. The address of the home is 1055 Shawano Avenue in Green Bay.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Screening at Lincoln Elementary revealed the following areas require cleaning: gymnasium, second floor classroom, second floor bathroom, locker and hallway adjacent to locker, and conference room. The playground still requires assessment.
Screening at Franklin Middle School revealed the following areas require cleaning: second floor classroom and isolated area in hallway on second floor.
The impacted residence requires additional screening and cleaning.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Response Actions to Date
Green
Bay Fire, Green Bay Police, Brown County Health, Wisconsin Department of Health
Services (WDHS), Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), and US EPA
responded to Lincoln Elementary School on December 6, 2016. The
children who were playing with the mercury were isolated and the remaining
students and staff (~320 people) were sequestered in the cafeteria. The school district hired North Shore
Environmental Construction (NSEC) to assist with the response. Students
and staff were screened for mercury contamination prior to being released. Six students had contaminated shoes and
clothing which were confiscated and replaced prior to sending them home. Contamination was found in the gymnasium, one classroom, a
bathroom, a locker, and the room where the contaminated children were
sequestered. Lincoln Elementary will be closed on December 7, 2016.
Interviews revealed that siblings also took the mercury vial
to Franklin Middle School, 1233 Lore Lane in Green Bay. NSEC screened reportedly impacted areas of the
school and the involved students and their belongings prior to releasing them
at the end of the school day. Subsequent
screening at this school indicated that a classroom and small area of a hallway
require additional cleaning. These areas
were isolated. Franklin Middle Scholl will be open on December 7, 2016.
The home of the students who brought the mercury to school
was screened by WDHS. Mercury
concentrations exceeded WDHS’ Lumex (greater than 50 µg/m3. The family was evacuated and the property
placarded.
2.1.2 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The Green Bay Area Public School District is assuming
responsibility for Lincoln Elementary School and Franklin Middle School. Public health is attempting to contact the
owner of the impacted residence.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
Mercury Contaminated Waste (D009) |
Solid |
TBD |
TBD |
Retort |
Veolia, Port Washington, WI |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Planned Response Activities
NSEC will remobilize to Lincoln Elementary at 11:00 on
December 7, 2016 to clean the impacted areas.
US EPA will conduct oversight and clearance screening for the school
district. After the
school day is completed, NSEC will clean Franklin Middle School and EPA will
evaluate for clearance.
EPA, WDNR, and Public Health are making arrangements to meet
with the property owner of the impacted school as soon as possible on December
7, 2016. Once a clean-up plan is
established with the property owner, the team will work with the tenants on
property disposition and continued temporary relocation.
2.2.2 Issues
Cold temperatures limit the ability to screen the potentially impacted playground at Lincoln Elementary School. Visual inspection will be conducted on December 7, 2016.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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Nothing to report.
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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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2.5.1 Safety Officer
Nothing to report.
2.5.2 Liaison Officer
OSC Halbur acted as Liaison Officer.
2.5.3 Information Officer
Green Bay Area Public School District acted as the lead information officer for this response, with assistance from Green Bay Metro Fire Department.
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
All responding agencies participated in Unified Command, under Green Bay Metro Fire Department.
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Brown County
Health Department
Green Bay
Area Public School District
Green Bay
Metro Fire Department
Green Bay
Police Department
Wisconsin
Department of Health Services
Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources
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4. Personnel On Site
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EPA: OSC Halbur (12/6/16); OSC Brown (12/7/16)
START: 2
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5. Definition of Terms
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Nothing to report.
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6. Additional sources of information
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
http://fox11online.com/news/local/green-bay/possible-mercury-contamination-causes-evacuation-of-lincoln-elementary-in-green-bay
6.2 Reporting Schedule
POLREPs will be issued as significant developments occur.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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Nothing to report.
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