On Sunday, April 15, 2007 EPA R10 ER Duty Officer was notified of Mercury release at a residential property within the city limits of Yakima. Apparently, approximately 8 months ago a one liter bottle of mercury was either found or provided to two youths, 12 and 16 years old, at the residence. The youths and at least four other children in the neighborhood played with the mercury over the ensuing period. The 16-year-old was admitted to a hospital in Seattle late last week, being diagnosed with mercury poisoning. The Yakima Fire Department, Yakima Health District and Washington Department of Ecology responded to the spill. With the assistance of a response contractor, Ecology cleaned up visible mercury along the uncontrolled access street and sidewalk. Spilled mercury was thought to still be in the fenced yard and the home and concern exists over other potential areas of significantly hazardous contamination, including other homes, schools, vehicles, etc. Although the fire department made a preliminary inquiry in the neighborhood, it was not comprehensive or conclusive. EPA assistance was requested to lend technical advise and possible cleanup. OSC Kathy Parker and two EPA START3 contractors were dispatched early Monday morning. Additional resources including an OSC - Greg Weigel, 2 STARTS and 4 ERRS contractors were mobilized to determine the extent of contamination and address remaining unsecured contamination. Mercury vapor screening found high levels of mercury in the home of the boy suffering from mercury poisoning and in the neighboring home. Hot spots were identified in the yards of the two homes, and adjacent sidewalk. EPA initiated additional assessment and cleanup.
Thursday April 19th - Saturday April 21st
Soil sampling and mercury analysis continued at locations in and around the two properties. Confirmatory samples were taken and sent to the lab. Air samples were taken in the home at 1011-1/2 South 6th St. to clear the house for re-entry. Furniture, household items and clothing were screened, inventoried and removed from the house at 1013 South 6th St. Additional screening, after removal of items, resulted in identification of additional sources of mercury still in the home. The family arrived on Friday and were given some personal items that had been cleaned. The family was relocated to a hotel. Crews began excavation contaminated soils around the two properties. Additional information was received from the home owner's brother regarding where the mercury was found and where the boys played with it. The information was used to narrow and expand the search to specific areas where the boys had played with it.
Received and reviewed confirmatory air sample data for the house at 1011-1/2. Results confirm mercury contamination has been removed from that house to levels below the ATSDR action level of 1 ug/m3.
Screened the home of the sick boy's uncle and removed clothing contaminated with low levels of mercury and a vacumm filter that was tested and found to contain high levels of mercury.
Continue to address residual contamination in the house at 1013 by heating and ventilating until concentrations are below the cleanup level.
Continue to heat and ventilate contaminated articles in the heating tent until concentrations are below the cleanup goal.
Complete soil sample collection and field analysis using Lumex to determine contaminated areas in the two residential yards that require cleanup.
Remove contaminated soils that exceed the clean up level.
Remove deck and excavate soils underneath.
Confirm decontamination of house at 1013 and air sample to allow family to return home.
Replace areas of houses removed or demolished during cleanup.
Demobilization
Determination of EPA's financial responsibilities with regard to replacement of demolished parts of houses and reimbursement of the families.
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