1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
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Contract Number: |
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D.O. Number: |
NA |
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Action Memo Date: |
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Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Emergency |
Response Lead: |
PRP |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
3/21/2011 |
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Start Date: |
3/21/2011 |
Demob Date: |
3/21/2011 |
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Completion Date: |
3/21/2011 |
CERCLIS ID: |
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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
Emergency Response
1.1.2 Site Description
Mercury was released inside and outside of a residential property.
1.1.2.1 Location
4701 Pine Acres Court, Atlanta, Georgia.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
On March 21, 2011, EPA Phone Duty Officer received an NRC report #970658 regarding a mercury spill in a residential home. Phone Duty Officer contacted the resident to obtain more information about the spill. Phone Duty Officer then deployed R1, OSC Patel, to respond. GAEPD was notified of the response.
According to the resident, mercury was spilled from a device used to measure power from a motorcycle. The spill occurred a few months ago. The device broke in the basement of the house and was taken outside and bagged by the resident. The resident cleaned the spill and estimated a teaspoon of mercury was released onto the floor. The resident also noticed a few beads outside on the concrete patio where the item was bagged. The basement floor is made of tiles and wipes were used to clean the spill. Used wipes were placed in a second bag, sealed, and placed outdoors. The resident was unsure how to properly dispose of the items containing mercury. The resident contacted the National Response Center after reading about mercury being a hazardous material.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
The mercury vapor concentration of the room in the basement at breathing level was around 300 ng/m3 with a temperature of 68oF. The Residential Removal Action Level for elemental mercury vapor is 1,000 ng/m3. Breathing zone was measured at the center of the room and at the location of the spill. This was completed by taking a reading with the Lumex after standing in place for a minimum of three minutes at both locations. Doors and windows of the impacted room were closed during the readings. Other areas of the house including the main entrance of the house, the hallway, and the basement's storage room had mercury vapor concentrations less than 20 ng/m3. The bag containing the wipes used to clean the spill had concentration in excess of 50,000 ng/m3. The bag containing the device was not measured since it was broken and mercury could potentially be released if opened. The concrete patio outside the basement where mercury beads were released had concentrations well below the Residential Removal Action Level for elemental mercury. Lumex was also used to measure in and around furniture of impacted room to ensure mercury was not tracked to other items. Thes readings were well below the Residential Removal Action Level for mercury vapor.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
No other response actions were necessary. Vapor concentration in the breathing zone of the basement was less than the residential Removal Action Level of 1,000 ng/m3. Vapor concentrations elsewhere in the house were less than 20 ng/m3.
The resident was informed of the following three items:
1) Results from the Lumex,
2) Continue to keep basement windows open when possible to allow trace concentrations to evaporate, and
3) Item containing mercury and items used to clean the spill is considered household waste and therefore can be disposed in her outside garbage can. Items should be kept outside of the house at all times.
START and ERRS were not mobilized for the response.
Phone Duty Officer notified GAEPD of the results.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The resident is the PRP.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
None
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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No information available at this time.
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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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