Spill Response

1
Spill Response
2
Spill Response

• A. Initial Actions
• B. Small Spill Information
• C. Large Spill Information
• D. Resources and Responsibilities
• E. Funding and Grants
• F. Monitoring Instruments
• G. Air Sampling Method and Equipment

3
Initial Actions

• Actions that Should be Taken
• Dos /Don'ts
• minimize possible health impacts,
• spread of contamination, and associated clean up
  time

4
Actions that Should be Taken aka Dos

• Immediately evacuate the area
• aka HOT ZONE
• Bag, and seal
• clothing and shoes
• Place the bag outdoors
• Secure location
• Wash exposed skin
• warm water and soap

5
Initial Actions

• Ventilate the area
• Open windows (caution)
• Turn off HVAC
• Isolate vapors
• prevent vapor migration to other rooms
• duct tape door
• Notify
• MDEQ,EPA, Local Fire Department, local health
  department

6
Actions that Should not be Takenaka Donts

• DO NOT allow anyone or any pets to enter the
  area.
• DO NOT attempt to vacuum spilled mercury
• DO NOT allow Firefighter in enter area
• Without chemical PPE
• DO NOT attempt to clean-up area
• Firefighter shouldnt cleanup spill
• Unless they are willing to take responsibility

7
Small Spill Information

• Small spill
• Broken thermometer or thermostat
• .6 - 3.0 grams 1 droplet (pea size)
• Limited to a small area (contained)
• 4 x 4 area or less
• Cleaned up easily
• Within 1 hour

8
Small Spill Information

• Coordinated
• with MDEQ, EPA, local health department, and
  possibly the U.S. EPA

• Anything over
• gt.6 - 3.0 grams 1 droplet (pea size)
• gtuncontained area
• gt4 x 4 area or more
• gt1 hour

9
Large Spill Information

• Large spill
• gt 3.0 grams
• Uncontained areas
• Complicated clean-ups
• Require multi-agency response
• EPA, MDEQ, local / state health depts, EMA, fire
  department, hazardous materials unit
• Typically involves
• Referral, Removal, Replacement, Reoccupation

10
Resources and Responsibilities

• Each publicly funded department or agency has the
  responsibility for providing sensible and
  protective advice to concerned citizens, schools,
  and businesses. By understanding the basic
  protective measures presented in this manual,
  local responders can correctly advise community
  members and refer them, if necessary, to other
  experienced individuals as appropriate.

11
Resources and Responsibilities

• OSPPERAs Mercury Spill Response Cleanup
  Guidance.
• U.S. EPA Region 5 Mercury Response Guidebook
• Both Guidebooks included in the CD
• Internet

12
Funding and Grants

• Local Government Reimbursement
• Temporary emergency measures
• Releases or threatened releases of hazardous
  substances
• Eligible local governments
• up to 25,000 per incident

13
Funding and Grants

• LGR Program
• LGR Help Line at [phone] or e-mail
  questions tolgrinfo_at_epa.gov
• Information is also available at
• http//www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/er/lgr/lgrfa
  qs.htm

14
Funding and Grants

• Other Funding for Mercury-Related Projects
• Great Lakes National Program Office's Great Lakes
  Program Funding
• www.epa.gov/glnpo/fund/glf.html
• Community Toolbox Children's Environmental Health
  Grants
• Communitytoolbox.org

15
Insurance Claims

• Insurance policies vary significantly depending
  on the company and coverage.
• In case of a mercury spill, contact the insurance
  company to determine coverage and liability.
• Most Insurance policies dont cover Mercury Spills

16
Monitoring Instruments

• Lumex RA-915
• Mercury vapor content in ambient air, water,
  soil, and natural and stack gases.
• Real-time measurement
• Read very levels
• atomic-absorption spectrometer
• Preferred

17
Monitoring Instruments

• Jerome
• Goldfilm sensor
• Mercury vapor in the air (High levels)
• Gold film becomes saturated,
• Regeneration mode

18
Monitoring Instruments

• Less common instruments
• VM-3000
• Nippon EMP-1A

19
Air Sampling Method and Equipment

• Air Sampling Method
• National Institute of Occupational Safety and
  Health (NIOSH) Method 6009 for measuring mercury
  in air samples