Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Mercury - Lawrence Toilet Bowl
Lawrence, KS - EPA Region VII
POLREP #1
First and Final POLREP

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Mercury - Lawrence Toilet Bowl - Removal Polrep
Initial and Final Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VII

Subject:

POLREP #1
First and Final POLREP
Mercury - Lawrence Toilet Bowl
KSN000706027
Lawrence, KS
Latitude: 38.9681000 Longitude: -95.2464000

To:

From:

Doug Ferguson, OSC

Date:

8/31/2009

Reporting Period:

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:		Contract Number:
D.O. Number:		Action Memo Date:
Response Authority:	CERCLA	Response Type:	PRP Oversight
Response Lead:	PRP	Incident Category:	Removal Action
NPL Status:	Non NPL	Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:	5/5/2009	Start Date:	5/5/2009
Demob Date:	8/18/2009	Completion Date:	8/18/2009
CERCLIS ID:	KSN000706027	RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:
FPN#:		Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

PRP Removal

1.1.2 Site Description

On May 4, 2009, EPA was contacted by the Lawrence Kansas Fire Department regarding a spill of mercury from a toilet bowl. The toilet bowl was located in a second floor bathroom of a residential rental home at 831 Alabama Street in Lawrence, Kansas. It is not known how the mercury ended up in the toilet, but it was discovered when the property owner was replacing the wax ring that joins the toilet to the flange.

1.1.2.1 Location

Lawrence, Kansas

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Mercury spill in a residence.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Initial concentrations of mercury in the home did not exceed 208 ng/cubic meter except for the bathroom at 15,000 ng/cubic meter (all measurements with the Lumex TM Mercury Vapor Analyzer). The house had a separate apartment at 829 Alabama with no concentrations of mercury vapor above background.

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

An estimated 1 pound of mercury was spilled onto the floor, most of which was recovered by physical means. The toilet and various other smaller debris in the bathroom were contaminated with small amounts of mercury and were disposed of. After removing the visible mercury and contaminated debris, air monitoring was performed and the bathroom had concentrations of mercury at 2200 ng/cubic meter. The Kansas State Fire Marshall monitored the site on May 7, 2009, and determined the mercury vapor concentrations exceeded action levels (1,000 ng/cubic meter). At that point, the subfloor of the bathroom was removed and additional visible mercury was discovered trapped between the floor and ceiling. The visible mercury was removed and ceiling tiles were sealed with a polyurethane coating. Additionally, the carpet on the first floor was removed as some mercury had made its way through the water damaged ceiling underneath the upstairs toilet, and leaked onto the first floor.

OSC Ferguson screened the property on Friday, May 15, 2009, and determined mercury vapor concentrations were still above action levels. At that time the apartment remained unoccupied, but the tenant's possessions prevented the property owner from further remediating the site until the tenants remove their belongings at the end of the lease period (July 31, 2009).

OSC Ferguson screened the rental property on August 18, 2009, with a LumexTM Mercury Vapor Analyzer and determined mercury vapor concentrations in the residence were well below levels of concern for human health.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

Initially, it was believed that the property owner's insurance company would cover cleanup costs, but the insurance company eventually denied coverage. The PRP is the property owner.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal

Elemental Mercury liquid 1 pound Douglas County HHW
711 East 23rd Street
Lawrence, KS 66044

Mercury contamianted debris solid 1 cubic yard landfill

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
No additional activities are planned.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
None
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
None
2.2.2 Issues

2.3 Logistics Section