U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Mercury - Sequiota, Springfield,MO site - Removal Polrep
Initial and Final Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VII
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Subject:
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POLREP #1
First and Final
Mercury - Sequiota, Springfield,MO site
MON000706065
Springfield, MO
Latitude: 37.1504570 Longitude: -93.2308020
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To:
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From:
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Janice Kroone, OSC
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Date:
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9/24/2009
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Reporting Period:
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September 21 - 25, 2009
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
MON000706065 |
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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: |
PRP Oversight |
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Response Lead: |
PRP |
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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: |
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Start Date: |
9/21/2009 |
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Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
9/25/2009 |
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CERCLIS ID: |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
Yes |
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FPN#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency Response, PRP oversight
1.1.2 Site Description
Elementary School
1.1.2.1 Location
Sequiota Elementary, 3414 S Mentor Ave, Springfield, MO
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Release of mercury and mercury vapors into the environment.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
On September 21, 2009, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Emergency Response program was notified by Springfield Public Schools of a broken thermometer in a classroom at Sequiota Elementary. School officials became aware of the incident when a student found a small bead of mercury on the tile floor. It was then discovered by school officials that the thermometer was broken on Friday, September 18, 2009, when it was dropped on the floor. After the mercury was discovered on September 21, 2009, students were removed from the room and the room was isolated. It was reported that school officials used decontamination wipes on students' shoes as they left the room. Decon materials were bagged and left in the room.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
MDNR responded to the scene. The school district hired Sunbelt Environmental to perform cleanup actions.
MDNR found mercury levels exceeding 4,000 ng/m3 in the classroom.
Sunbelt utilized a mercury vac to cleanup visible mercury.
MDNR requested EPA's assistance with utilizing the Lumex for screening and verifying compliance with clean-up levels. The Missouri Department of Health and Human Services provided MDNR with a clean-up level not to exceed 300 ng/m3 for mercury vapors.
EPA responded on September 22, 2009. Lumex readings in the breathing zone in room 110 ranged from 52 ng/m3 - 153 ng/m3. Over the sink, levels were found to be 364 ng/m3 (the ptrap was then replaced). Levels near the floor where the thermometer broke were between 760 ng/m3 - 1300 ng/m3. File cabinets were wiped down with mercury x and the room was heated and vented for several hours. The room was then closed up for several hours and readings on September 22, 2009 at 2200 ranged from 75 - 104 ng/m3(breathing zone), 216 ng/m3 near the floor and 160 ng/m3 near the sink. The room was then closed until 0620 on September 23, 2009. Lumex readings ranged from 139 - 170 ng/m3(breathing zone), 148 ng/m3 at the sink and 163 ng/m3 at the floor level.
The school was advised to ventilate the room until Friday at which time EPA would return to take additional readings as requested by MDNR utilizing their three day resample protocol.
On September 25, 2009, EPA found mercury vapor levels ranging from 49 - 69 ng/m3
(breathing zone), 79 ng/m3 at the sink and 66 ng/m3 at the floor level.
The school requested a letter from EPA indicating the cleanup goal had been met. An email was sent from ATSDR advising of levels found in the room and the fact that mercury vapors in the room were below the 300 ng/m3 cleanup level.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
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Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Sunbelt was to remove all contaminated materials that had been containerized from the school for appropriate disposal.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
None
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
None
2.2.2 Issues
None
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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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2.5.1 Safety Officer
None
2.6 Liaison Officer
None
2.7 Information Officer
2.7.1 Public Information Officer
None
2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
None
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
N/A
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
EPA worked in conjunction with MDNR and school officials.
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4. Personnel On Site
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1 EPA
1 MDNR
3 Sunbelt Employees
Various school officials
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5. Definition of Terms
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No information available at this time.
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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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