Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Valleystream Rd Mercury Spill
Winston Salem, NC - EPA Region IV
POLREP #1
Initial POLREP: Summary of Removal Activities

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Valleystream Rd Mercury Spill - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IV

Subject:

POLREP #1
Initial POLREP: Summary of Removal Activities
Valleystream Rd Mercury Spill
B4B4
Winston Salem, NC
Latitude: 36.0840600 Longitude: -80.3677900

To:

From:

Subash Patel, OSC

Date:

8/9/2010

Reporting Period:

August 4, 2010 to August 23, 2010

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:	B4B4	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:	8/4/2010	Start Date:	8/4/2010
Demob Date:	8/8/2010	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

The residential home is located at 849 Valleystream Road, Winston-Salem, NC. The surrounding area is a residential neighborhood comprised of single family homes.

1.1.2.1 Location

Latitude: 36.084061
Longitude: -80.36736

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

On August 4, 2010, Phone Duty Officer received a NRC report of two children that live at a single family residence that may be experiencing mercury poisoning. The report was submitted by the family physician after discovering that there was a mercury spill in the residence. Phone Duty Officer dispatched OSC Patel to conduct an assessment of the children's home. Elemental mercury concentrations of the breathing air in the house were between 5,000 ng/m3 and 6,000 ng/m3. During cleanup activities, elemental mercury beads were observed under the legs of the kitchen table. It appeared the source came from a mercury switch that was dropped from the kitchen table. The family relocated to a relative's homes during cleanup activities.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

During the assessment, elemental mercury concentrations of the breathing air was found to be between
5,000 ng/m3 and 6,000 ng/m3. Other homes where the children frequently visited were found to have elemental mercury concentrations below EPA's Residential Removal Action Level. A company vehicle used for business purposes was found to have mercury concentration above EPA's Industrial Removal Action Level. Cleanup activities reduced the vehicle's mercury concentration in air to well below EPA's Industrial Removal Action Level.

Forsyth County participated with EPA during the assessment of the home. ATSDR was informed of indoor air concentrations and ongoing cleanup activities.

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Response Actions to Date

1) ERRS removed household items including furniture, clothing, food, plastic cups and plates, and other items, the living room carpet and the kitchen flooring. The spill occurred by the kitchen table which is in the vicinity of the living room's carpet.

2) ERRS returned all furniture to the living room and kitchen area.

3) Contaminated items such as some clothing, food, and plastic items were discarded into a roll-off box for disposal.

4) Residents were informed it was safe to re-occupy home after obtaining results from confirmation sampling.

5) The roll-off box containing contaminated items has been sent for disposal to a nonhazardous landfill.

6) The source is awaiting disposal to a recycling/disposal facility.

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

2.1.3 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Planned Response Activities

Recycle/disposal of the source.

2.2.2 Issues

None

2.3 Logistics Section