Friday, May 15, 2015

EXACT SOURCE OF MERCURY SPILL IN VENTURA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA UNKNOWN. CONTAMINATED PORTIONS OF COCHRAN STREET, PRIVATE DRIVEWAY WILL BE REPAVED




MAY 15, 2015

VENTURA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA


 TAKING PRECAUTIONS—At left, members of the Ventura County hazmat team prepare to enter the contaminated area in the 4100 block of Cochran Street on Monday. About 3 pounds of mercury was discovered on a private driveway and street.
 Below, Ventura County firefighter Joe Dullam seals hazmat team member Mike Westbrook’s sleeves and gloves with tape before he enters the contaminated area to conduct testing





 Several days after 3 pounds of mercury was found on a Cochran Street driveway, directly exposing 10 people to the hazardous liquid metal and prompting a partial street closure, authorities are still not sure what caused the spill in the first place.

With the investigation still underway, the closure of Cochran Street between Tapo Street and Tapo Canyon Road remained in place as of press time Thursday. Officials were hopeful residents of the neighborhood would be able to return home by Saturday afternoon, City Manager Eric Levitt told the Simi Valley Acorn.

Levitt said the colder temperatures and forecasted rain has been an issue for repaving the contaminated areas.

“Right now the plan is we’re hoping to have the (repaving) completed both in the street as well as the private drive,” he said. “If that works as planned, then the streets should be reopened by end of day Saturday.”

Six homes on a private cul-de-sac in the 4100 block of Cochran Street were evacuated around 3 p.m. Monday after the Ventura County Fire Department and the Simi Valley Police Department received reports of a spilled substance.

The half-mile stretch of Cochran Street was closed to the public Monday while hazmat officials collected samples and tested the contaminated area. It was determined about 3 pounds of the substance had spilled onto a residential driveway and side street, according to Capt. Mike Lindbery, VCFD spokesperson.


PROTECTIVE GEAR—Above, members of the Ventura County Fire Department’s hazardous materials team check the road for spilled mercury Monday as they cross Cochran Street toward a residential driveway where a few pounds of the heavy, liquid metal was found. 




Jeff Seabrook of the hazmat team collects a sample of the substance. Several hours later, the substance was confirmed as the liquid metal mercury.

A team from the California Environmental Protection Agency (CALEPA) was called in to investigate the source of the spill and determine the extent of contamination, Assistant City Manager Jim Purtee told the Acorn earlier this week.

By Tuesday afternoon, the contaminated area was reduced to about 100 feet on either side of the affected driveway. However, Cochran Street remained closed so CALEPA could continue its investigation.


 “There’s all these rumors flying around about how long the spill has been here and what generated it,” Purtee said. “I’d rather let the EPA get their investigation done . . . but in the EPA’s experience, it looks like the spill hasn’t been around that long, maybe a week or two.

Nahal Mogharabi, CALEPA spokesperson, said the team is using Lumex mercury meters, which monitor the substance’s levels, to assess the amount of contamination in the area. The EPA is now trying to determine how to approach the cleanup.

“The source of the spill has yet to be determined, (and) the EPA’s immediate concern is to assess and clean up the contaminated area,” Mogharabi said. “Once that has been completed, the EPA’s investigation will continue to identify the source.”

So far, the EPA has been granted permission to test four of the six homes affected by the spill and is working to gain access to the remaining two to make sure there’s no contamination.

“Mercury was found in one home with levels of concern for re-occupancy,” Mogharabi said. “The EPA is conducting a more comprehensive assessment of this home to determine appropriate cleanup actions.”

Exposure
Ten people, including three firefighters, were exposed to the mercury Monday and have been advised to get tested.

Levitt said city officials and the EPA have been in constant contact with those directly affected by the spill.

“What I can tell you is that any person we feel has been impacted and needs medical testing has been directly contacted and is aware of what they need to do,” the city manager said.

Dr. Robert Levin, Ventura County public health officer, said in a statement that illness caused by mercury exposure is unlikely in this incident because the “concentration of mercury has been diminishing” over time.

Exposure to mercury can cause symptoms that affect the lungs, kidneys, central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract, Levin said. People who’ve come in direct contact with the heavy metal are at the greatest risk of contracting symptoms.

Despite the spill’s proximity to Santa Susana Elementary School and the Kids ’n Things preschool center, officials said there was no danger to the public.
Source: http://www.simivalleyacorn.com