On the evening of 4/8/2026, EPA was notified that a recycling facility in Sulphur Springs was accepting and mishandling radioactive material. Upon follow up with the facility, it was determined that a site visit was required. An EPA On-Scene Coordinator and the technical team (START) were activated on the morning of 4/9/2026 to respond and assess the situation. State and local response partners including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Railroad Commission and the Hopkins County Sheriff's Office were notified by EPA of the incident.
EPA conducted a site walk assessment with TCEQ and the facility owner. The site walk confirmed only low level technically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM) was present and posed no risk threat and no off-site migration. TENORM is typically from oil field production operations.
EPA and TCEQ demobilized afterwards the same day.
