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2.1.1 Narrative
Emergency Rapid Response Services (ERRS) and Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) crews began Site response activities on 5/19/2016.
ERRS crews cleared debris from the north building. E-waste and fluorescent bulbs were moved to the east wall. Trash and uncontaminated debris was bagged and moved to the exterior of the building. Contaminated materials were solidified with sorbent and containerized. Waste oil in two sumps within the building were pumped into available totes. Debris in the sumps was solidified and shoveled into another container. Small containers such as 5-gal buckets were staged on the south wall. ERRS then began to stage drums in the building that had been found in the north building and around the outside. Drums are staged on pallets and arranged in rows for easy and safe access. Prior to moving drums, ERRS collected samples (where possible) from each drum and tote for hazard categorization.
START and EPA OSC Huyser entered the west building with a Lumex Mercury Vapor Analyzer (MVA) and a Jerome MVA to identify mercury contamination in the building. Immediately mercury beads were identified in at least four distinct locations where medical devices (sphygmomanometers) and thermostats lay broken open. Glass tubes which previously contained mercury were found nearby. Mercury beads were found on the concrete floor within and alongside dirt, debris, rocks, trash, and oil residue. Mercury beads were found on drums, many of which were also covered in dust and oil residue. Amd mercury beads were found on stacks of cardboard boxes, which contained fluorescent bulbs. Mercury contamination appeared to be limited to the southern portion of the building and was well ventilated due to two large garage bay doors which were left open. The long building has four garage bay doors, one of which is missing and two of which were open upon initial inspection. Mercury vapor concentrations remained below 5,000-7,000 ng/m3 even around the spilled mercury although concentrations spiked beyond 30,000 ng/m3 near the floor in areas where mercury had been spilled. Mercury vapor levels fell to outdoor background concentrations through the rest of the building (when garage doors remained open).
START and EPA OSC Huyser continued mercury screening in the north building and did not find any indication of contamination. Three 5-gallon buckets sealed with red duct tape were identified with labels that identified the contents as mercury waste; one bucket contained a closed 1-gallon can and no elevated mercury readings were detected around the containers.
START began cataloging all containers using an electronic iForms system which includes notes and photographs of each object. The database will be used to assist in hazard categorization and bulking for disposal as well as provide a sufficient record of all wastes found at the Site. ERRS has mobilized a chemist to begin hazard categorization of samples.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
- Cleared debris from north building
- Began cleaning sumps in north building
- Began staging drums in north building
- Delineated extent of spilled mercury contamination
- Began cataloging containers
- Began sampling containers for hazard categorization
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The former partner declared that there were no available funds associated with the business to conduct the response and there were no other fund sources to undertake the action. Written access to conduct the response was not granted until May 18.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
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Treatment |
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