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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
B784 |
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Contract Number: |
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D.O. Number: |
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Action Memo Date: |
4/11/2014 |
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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: |
3/25/2014 |
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Start Date: |
3/25/2014 |
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Demob Date: |
3/25/2014 |
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Completion Date: |
3/27/2014 |
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CERCLIS ID: |
MON000702278 |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
MDNR EER |
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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
Elemental mercury discovered spilled in the middle of Venus Street.
1.1.2.1 Location
Near the intersection of Venus Street and South Ellison Way, Independence, Missouri.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Elemental mercury, possibly up to ten pounds, was released from a broken glass jar into the street. Mercury is a hazardous substance as defined by section 101(14) of CERCLA and is listed at 40 CFR § 302.4. Beads and small puddles of mercury were visible on the asphalt street and associated street gutter debris.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Silver puddles and beads of mercury were visible in the street and confirmed as mercury with a Lumex Mercury Vapor Analyzer.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
An anonymous motorist passing by discovered the release of mercury in the street near the intersection of Venus Street and South Ellison Way and called the Independence, Missouri fire department. The fire department immediately sent two response vehicles to the site and closed down the street to avoid accidental contact with the elemental mercury. The fire department lacked the proper equipment to conduct the cleanup and contacted MDNR for assistance. MDNR didn't have the proper equipment in the regional office and the nearest equipment they could obtain would not have been in at the site in a timely manner. So they contacted the EPA Region 7 spill line requesting federal assistance.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
One EPA OSC and one START contractor mobilized to the site and met with an MDNR OSC and the Independence fire department. After the initial briefing, the fire department departed from the site as soon as the EPA and MDNR had re-established the road closure. The EPA mercury vacuum was plugged into the MDNR on-board generator and the street was cleared of all visible beads of mercury within approximately four hours.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The broken jar and resultant mercury release is believed to have resulted from a jar of mercury falling off a moving vehicle into the street. No PRPs could be determined nor will any be pursued unless new information is discovered.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
| liquid mercury |
liquid |
13 pounds |
NA |
NA |
KCMO HHW facility |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
The emergency response lasted only four hours and a formal ICS organization was not established.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
There are no further activities planned.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
The MDNR OSC agreed to take possession of the mercury and waste generated during the response and deliver them to the Kansas City, MO HHW facility for recycling/retort on March 26, 2014. After an additional round of equipment decontamination, START generated an additional jar with a few beads of elemental mercury. OSC Nold collected the jar and transported it to the KCMO HHW facility on March 27, 2014, where it was consolidated with the previous jars of elemental mercury.
2.2.2 Issues
None.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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No formal ICS organization was established. The EPA provided the mercury vacuum and MDNR provided a generator to power it. MDNR arranged for recycling/retort of the mercury through the KCMO HHW facility.
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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
The mercury vapor analyzer (Lumex) was used to verify the outdoor cleanup could safely proceed in modified Level D.
2.5.2 Liaison Officer
N/A
2.5.3 Information Officer
There was no media attention given to this release.
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
The EPA and MDNR coordinated the response with assistance from the EPA START contractor.
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Initial road closure and response was conducted by the Independence fire department.
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4. Personnel On Site
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MDNR OSC Carter Tharpe
EPA OSC Eric Nold
EPA START Keith Brown
Independence, Missouri fire department
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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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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
N/A
6.2 Reporting Schedule
N/A
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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