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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
B4A6 |
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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 |
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Response Lead: |
EPA |
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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: |
6/24/2010 |
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Start Date: |
6/24/2010 |
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Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
KYN000410565 |
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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
Accidental Release of mercury into the environment.
1.1.2 Site Description
OSC Art Smith and OSC Ben Franco were mobilized at the request of the KDEP to respond to a release of an unknown amount of elemental mercury at a residence in Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky. The mercury had been stored in a barn. When the owner passed away, a person hired to clean out the barn accidentally spilled the mercury onto the lawn and not knowing the hazards it presented, tracked it into his home, his vehicle, located about 9 miles away.
1.1.2.1 Location
The site of the original spill location is from a barn at a residence along Butler Road, east of Hopkinsville at
N 36.878716
W 87.434716.
The site of the residence where the mercury was tracked to is along Madisonville Road, north of Hopkinsville at
N 36.925466
W 87.489216
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
OSC Art Smith and OSC Ben Franco were mobilized at the request of the KDEP to respond to a release of fifteen pounds of elemental mercury at a residence. The mercury had been stored in a barn at the residence. When the owner passed away, a person hired to clean out the barn accidentally spilled the mercury onto the lawn and not knowing the hazards it presented, tracked it into his home, and his vehicle, at a location approximately 9 miles away.
Mercury was discovered at concentrations in air inside the residence which represents a threat to human health.
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
EPA was notified of the release on 06/23/10 by KDEP, who had responded the previous day to a complaint from a resident. Upon entering the barn where the spill occurred, it was evident that the spill had migrated into the environment, requiring the services of a cleanup contractor. KDEP retained CMC, Inc. of Nicholasville, KY to respond and excavate soil contaminated with elemental mercury.
KDEP subsequently interviewed the person who had been hired to remove items from the barn. This individual acknowledged that the spill had occurred sometime earlier in June 2010, and that the mercury container was transported to a local scrapyard for recycling. KDEP visited the home of this individual, and found the ambient air immediately inside the residence exceeded 10 ug/m3 of mercury vapor. Unsure of what else that he might encounter he notified the KDEP Duty Officer and requested assistance from EPA Region 4 for additional investigative and mitigative actions.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
EPA OSCs Smith and Franco mobilized to the site on 06/24. OSC Smith arrived around 1100 hrs. CDT. At that time, EPA learned that the missing bottle of mercury had not been accepted at either of the two scrapyards previously cited by the individual responsible for the spill. EPA also accepted responsibility for CMC's continued cleanup services under a verbal task order issued in the amount of $90,000.
Shortly after arriving in Hopkinsville, OSC Smith met with representatives of the Christian County Emergency Management Agency (CCEMA), Christian County Health Department (CCHD), and the Christian County Sheriff's Office (CCSO). CCHD was seeking Orders to vacate the residence where mercury was discovered by KDEP. CCSO identified that the head of the household at that location was wanted for criminal activities, and that CCSO planned to interrogate that individual as to the whereabouts of the missing mercury container.
Once OSC Franco arrived onscene, all parties went to the Madisonville Rd. location to request official access to the residence to further investigate the extent of mercury contamination inside the home. CCHD served a Notice to Vacate to the property owner and by 1900 hrs. CDT on 06/24, official written access was obtained.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
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Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
EPA, START (Tetra Tech) and ERRS (CMC) will attempt to decontaminate personal belongings and return the residence to a condition where the CCHD will lift the Vacate Order.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
2.2.2 Issues
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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
2.6 Liaison Officer
OSC Smith arranged for ATSDR to consult with the CCHD for purposes of arranging medical testing for mercury exposure for the 2 parents and 3 children living in the mercury-contaminated residence.
2.7 Information Officer
2.7.1 Public Information Officer
OSC Smith participated in a press conference on 06/24 with state and local officials to brief the public on the situation.
2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
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3. Participating Entities
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No information available at this time.
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4. Personnel On Site
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No information available at this time.
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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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