On 01 November 2007, At approximately 1040 hours, EPA was requested, to respond to a residence in Goodrich, Texas and investigate a home that had been contaminated by Mercury. The home is a single family dwelling in a remote residential area. A 15 year old child had possession of 8 lbs of mercury for approximately four years at this residence. On 30 October 2007, dogs living at the residence, family pets, somehow got access to the bottle containing the mercury and while playing with it punctured a hole in the bottle and spread mercury about the interior of the residence. Upon the discovery of the spill that evening by the residents the Polk County Sheriffs Department was called in to give advice on what to do. They recommended leaving the house and the 15 year old left but his mother remained. EPA dispatched the START-3 to investigate on 1 November 2007 and arrived on scene that afternoon at about 1630 hours.
START-3 used a Lumex Mercury Detector to determine the presence of Mercury Vapors at a residence of a child who had particpated in the collection of the spilled mercury at the site. The START-3 contractor tested his hone on 30 October 2007 and detected <10 ug/m3 inside the house as well as <10ug/m3 in the car they came home in.
Another residence where this child had resided was investigated by START-3 in Kemah, Texas. START-3 monitored the inside of the house and detected mercury vapors below 10 ug/m3. START-3 also monitored his boots and clothing worn the night of the spill and saw readings of 25-46 ug/m3 mercury. The homeowner was advised to place the clothing and boots outside until START-# returns to re-evaluate them.
Under CERCLA, EPA will initate a clean-up on the residence.
ERRS contractors will be mobilized to the site to conduct this clean-up on November 26, 2007.
EPA will recycle elemental mercury held by the local sheriff's department as well as mercury collected from the local community during this response.
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