Guidelines for -Response -Cleanup -Relocation

1. Mercury Guidelines for -Response -Cleanup -Relocation

2. REGIONAL GUIDELINES Goals • Consistency • States • EPA Regions • Interagency Agreement (IAG) • with Army Corps of Engineers on emergency relocation support

3. REGIONAL GUIDELINES • Based on Common Sense • Synthesized from other guidance documents • Relatively few incidents in Region 1 but two occurred in the last year or so • Both in Rhode Island • Both had viable PRPs • Both were RIDEM lead responses

4. Typical Response • Spill report from NRC • Or direct call from state • EPA OSC contacts state and local responders • Verify and collect info on the release • What support is needed from EPA?

5. Response • Mobilize an OSC • Notify the START contractor • Determine equipment needs • Air monitoring • Sample collection – air, wipes, liquid • Mobilize equipment

6. AIR MONITORING • Emergency Assessment • Jerome MVA • LUMEX MVA • Air Sample collection • Sorbent media • 8-hour samples • Restricted airflow

7. AT THE RESPONSE • Integrate into ICS structure • If it doesn’t exist already, make it happen! • Emphasize the role of the environmental unit (EU) • Sample design • Data evaluation • Health decisions • Local, state and federal health officials

8. Agree on key decisions • Relocation levels of Hg in air • Site control responsibilities • Re-occupation levels • Public affairs and outreach responsibilities

9. Form a Relocation Team • Purpose of the relocation team • Take relocation responsibilities from the IC so that evaluation and cleanup can proceed. • Probably a Strike Team in Operations • Could be tech spec unit in Planning or elsewhere

10. Form a Relocation Team • State environmental agency rep • EPA OSC • State and local health rep • Public Affairs • Red Cross • Or ERRS • Or START • Eventually ACOE

11. Mercury Exposure • Public Health - ATSDR, state HA, local health agents • Children are especially sensitive • Worker Health - OSHA • My Health - EPA SHEMP AND HSO

12. Although near-real time information from MVA monitoring technology is acceptable for making public health decisions such as relocation, air sample collection should be used to provide laboratory verification of mercury vapors in air where necessary, such as re-occupation of remediated property. These action numbers have been developed in consultation with ATSDR. As always, the OSC should seek concurrence from state and local health officials. DISCLAIMER

13. Emergency Assessment Air Monitoring Guidelines forMercury Vapor in Residential PropertiesUsing Mercury Vapor Analyzer Instruments Very High Levels Where X = the measurement on a MVA

14. Emergency Assessment Air Monitoring Guidelines forMercury Vapor in Residential PropertiesUsing Mercury Vapor Analyzer Instruments High Levels • Jerome not used due to poor detection limits Where X = the measurement on a MVA

15. Emergency Assessment Air Monitoring Guidelines forMercury Vapor in Residential PropertiesUsing Mercury Vapor Analyzer Instruments Moderate Levels • Jerome not used due to poor detection limits Where X = the measurement on a MVA

16. Emergency Assessment Air Monitoring Guidelines forMercury Vapor in Residential PropertiesUsing Mercury Vapor Analyzer Instruments Low Levels • Jerome not used due to poor detection limits Where X = the measurement on a MVA

17. Cleanup issues • Access • Personal property • Real estate • Disposal • How clean is clean? • Agree before beginning cleanup

18. RE-OCCUPATION • Lost personal belongings re-imbursement • Decreased property values • Longterm health impacts