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Lincoln Elementary Mercury Response

All POL/SITREP's for this site Lincoln Elementary Mercury Response
Green Bay, WI - EPA Region V
POLREP #1
Initial 		Printer Friendly  |   PDF
 
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Lincoln Elementary Mercury Response - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V
Subject: POLREP #1
Initial
Lincoln Elementary Mercury Response

Green Bay, WI
Latitude: 44.5226492 Longitude: -88.0401132

To:
From: Kathy Halbur, OSC
Date: 12/7/2016
Reporting Period: 12/6/2016

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number:      Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 12/6/2016    Start Date: 12/6/2016
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:

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.
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    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
           
           


  2.2 Planning Section
    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.
  2.3 Logistics Section
    Nothing to report.
  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    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.
3. Participating Entities
  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
4. Personnel On Site
  EPA:  OSC Halbur (12/6/16); OSC Brown (12/7/16)
START: 2
5. Definition of Terms
  Nothing to report.
6. Additional sources of information
  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.
7. Situational Reference Materials
  Nothing to report.