U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Mercury - 201 E North St - Removal Polrep
Initial and Final Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VII
|
|
Subject:
|
POLREP #1
Initial and Final POLREP
Mercury - 201 E North St
B795
Logan, KS
Latitude: 39.6648893 Longitude: -99.5690978
|
|
To:
|
|
|
From:
|
Michael Davis, Federal On-Scene Coordinator (OSC)
|
|
Date:
|
10/24/2014
|
|
Reporting Period:
|
10/13/2014-10/24/2014
|
|
1. Introduction
|
|
|
1.1 Background
|
|
|
|
|
Site Number: |
B795 |
|
Contract Number: |
|
|
D.O. Number: |
|
|
Action Memo Date: |
10/16/2014 |
|
Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
|
Response Type: |
Emergency |
|
Response Lead: |
EPA |
|
Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
|
NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
|
Operable Unit: |
00 |
|
Mobilization Date: |
10/13/2014 |
|
Start Date: |
10/13/2014 |
|
Demob Date: |
10/16/2014 |
|
Completion Date: |
10/24/2014 |
|
CERCLIS ID: |
KSN000703023 |
|
RCRIS ID: |
|
|
ERNS No.: |
|
|
State Notification: |
KDHE Referred to EPA |
|
FPN#: |
|
|
Reimbursable Account #: |
|
1.1.1 Incident Category
This was a fund-lead emergency response action.
1.1.2 Site Description
Mercury spill at a residence with a risk of being spread outdoors and to other properties. Response was referred to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) through a Request for Federal Assistance (RFA).
1.1.2.1 Location
The site is located at 201 E North Street in Logan, Phillips County, Kansas. The surrounding community is rural residential. The site is bordered by farmland and residences. The geographic coordinates of the site are: Lat 39.665779°, Long -99.566466°.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Elemental mercury was found in the basement of the home which is the permanent residence of an adult and five children (ages 17, 16, 12, 9 and 6). Mercury vapor levels in the home were identified as high as 12,000 ng/m3. Mercury is a heavy metal and has been listed as a hazardous substance pursuant to section 102 of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9602 and 40 CFR § 302.4, the National Contingency Plan (NCP). Mercury presents a significant health threat and is considered an inhalation hazard. As a result the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has designated a site- specific clean up level of 1,000 ng/m3 for residences. The residents voluntarily relocated during the response.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 responded to a spill of elemental mercury in a residence. The mercury presumably originated from a boiler in the basement of the residence, which had been removed and replaced approximately 9 years ago, according to the resident. Elemental mercury was discovered by the homeowner in the basement and was reported to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on October 13, 2014. KDHE submitted a request for federal assistance (RFA) to EPA on the evening of October 13, 2014. The EPA Region 7 OSC coordinated with KDHE, the County Emergency Manager, and the Sheriff’s department. EPA mobilized the START and ERRS contractors on the evening of October 13th, and arrived at the residence at approximately 0800 hours on Tuesday, October 14, and met with the Sheriff and the homeowner. There was evidence of elemental mercury in the basement of the house and mercury vapors in the residence exceeded health-based action levels recommended by the ATSDR. The EPA initiated fund-lead response action at that time.
|
|
2. Current Activities
|
|
|
2.1 Operations Section
|
|
|
|
2.1.1 Narrative
Due to the presence of elemental mercury and significantly elevated mercury vapor concentrations in ambient air in the residence, EPA initiated a response action.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
EPA mobilized the ERRS and START contractors on the evening of October 13, 2014. Response actions began the following morning. Due to the presence of elemental mercury on the basement floor, and in a box and trash container where the homeowner had placed collected some mercury, initial response involved the collection of elemental mercury to the extent practicable using scoops, hand-held aspirator pumps, and a mercury vacuum. The basement was ventilated to minimize ambient vapor levels to identify additional hot spots. Grossly contaminated personal effects in the vicinity of the spill were bagged and moved outside for additional screening. Grossly contaminated effects included a washing machine and dryer, which exhibited mercury levels warranting disposal due to the impracticability of decontaminating those items. Mercury vapor levels in the basement were significantly reduced following these initial activities, but concentrations remained elevated on some areas of the basement floor. Two-part epoxy was then applied, and the basement was heated and closed overnight to raise ambient temperatures and allow the epoxy to dry. On the morning of October 16, EPA re-entered the basement and ambient mercury levels were below 400 ng/m3 throughout the basement and less than 300 ng/m3 throughout the living areas of the house. ERRS then demobilized, while EPA and START closed the house and placed one Gilian air sampling pump on each of the three levels of the home for collection of NIOSH Method 6009 time-weighted mercury samples. The air samples were then labeled and packaged for shipment. EPA and START demobilized.
EPA and START returned to the site on the following Monday, October 20, to apply a second coat of epoxy using DuraPoxy by Dural, which is an epoxy product which provides an ANSI-certified vapor barrier. Prior to applying the epoxy, the home was re-screened and mercury vapor levels throughout the home, including the basement, were less than 300 ng/m3.
EPA received the analytical results for the confirmation air samples on October 23, 2014. The results are summarized below:
2nd floor (RES-1): 243 ng/m³
1st floor (RES-2): 232 ng/m³
Basement (RES-3): 359 ng/m³
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
It was apparent, the homeowner lacked the ability to pay for a response. The homeowner's insurance policy was identified and reviewed by EPA counsel, and none of EPA's response activities are covered under this policy, so no parties were identified to pursue for enforcement or cost recovery. A confidential enforcement addendum indicating lack of enforcement opportunities was prepared by counsel and in the site file.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
| Mercury Waste |
Solid - Elemental Mercury |
One 5-gal poly bucket |
007908650 |
Waste Mangement - Mercury Waste Solutions |
|
| Mercury Contaminated Debris Waste |
Solid - D009 Haz Waste |
One 55-gal poly drum |
007908650 |
Waste Management - Mercury Waste Solutions |
|
|
|
|
2.2 Planning Section
|
|
|
|
2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
No further response actions are planned.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
No further response actions are planned.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Analytical data and ATSDR Health Consulation information will be transmitted to the homeowner.
2.2.2 Issues
None at this time.
|
|
|
2.3 Logistics Section
|
|
|
|
Logistics were performed by the OSC and contractors.
|
|
|
2.4 Finance Section
|
|
|
|
No information available at this time.
|
|
|
2.5 Other Command Staff
|
|
|
|
2.5.1 Safety Officer
The EPA OSC did not observe any safety issues during this response.
2.5.2 Liaison Officer
The limited scope of this response did not warrant an IMT Liason Officer.
2.5.3 Information Officer
The limited scope of this response did not warrant an IMT Information Officer.
|
|
3. Participating Entities
|
|
|
3.1 Unified Command
EPA coordinated action with local authorities, KDHE, and ATSDR.
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Initial logistical and information support was provided by KDHE, the Phillips County Emergency Manager, and the Phillips County Sherrif's Depratment.
|
|
4. Personnel On Site
|
|
|
1 EPA OSC
1 START Project Manager
1 ERRS Response Manager & 2 ERRS Response Technicians (Laborers)
|
|
5. Definition of Terms
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
6. Additional sources of information
|
|
|
6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
www.epaosc.org/Mercury-201ENorthSt
6.2 Reporting Schedule
This is a final POLREP. No additional reporting is anticipated.
|
|
7. Situational Reference Materials
|
|
|
Reports, records, and related documentation may be viewed on the project website at www.epaosc.org/Mercury-201ENorthSt.
|
|
|
