Spill Response

							Spill Response
               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
               Initial Actions




• Actions that Should be Taken
  – Do’s /Don'ts
     • minimize possible health impacts,
     • spread of contamination, and associated clean up time
  Actions that Should be Taken
            aka Do’s
• 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
           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
Actions that Should not be Taken
           aka Don’ts
• 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 shouldn’t cleanup spill
         » Unless they are willing to take responsibility
      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
     Small Spill Information
• Coordinated               – Anything over
  – with MDEQ, EPA,            • >.6 - 3.0 grams = 1
                                 droplet (pea size)
    local health
                               • >uncontained area
    department, and                – >4’ x 4’ area or more
    possibly the U.S. EPA      • >1 hour
       Large Spill Information
• Large spill:
  –   > 3.0 grams
  –   Uncontained area’s
  –   Complicated clean-ups
  –   Require multi-agency response
       • EPA, MDEQ, local / state health dept’s, EMA, fire
         department, hazardous materials unit
• Typically involves
  – Referral, Removal, Replacement, Reoccupation
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.
Resources and Responsibilities
• OSPPERA’s “Mercury Spill Response &
  Cleanup Guidance.”
• U.S. EPA Region 5 “Mercury Response
  Guidebook”
  – Both Guidebooks included in the CD
• Internet
        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
        Funding and Grants
• LGR Program
  – LGR Help Line at (800) 431-9209 or e-mail
    questions tolgrinfo@epa.gov
• Information is also available at
  – http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/e
    r/lgr/lgrfaqs.htm
        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
          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 don’t cover
    Mercury Spills
     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
Monitoring Instruments
           • Jerome
             – Goldfilm sensor
             – Mercury vapor in the
               air (High levels)
             – Gold film becomes
               saturated,
             – Regeneration mode
    Monitoring Instruments
• Less common
  instruments
  – VM-3000
  – Nippon EMP-1A
      Air Sampling Method and
             Equipment




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