On 01 November 2007, EPA was requested, to respond to a residence in Goodrich, Texas and investigate a mercury release. 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, pet dogs gained access to the bottle of mercury and punctured a hole in it. As a result, the dogs spread mercury throughout the interior of the residence. Upon the discovery of the spill that evening by the residents the Polk County Sheriffs Department was notified. 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 documented the mercury release. The mother relocated at that time.
Go to cleanup site at 570 Vicksburg Lane, Goodrich, Texas to monitor the remaining dogs at the residence. START-3 monitors 3 adult dogs and 5 puppies for mercury vapors with a Lumex Mercury Vapor detector and found all dogs to read < 1ug/m3. The dogs were released to their owner and removed from site. START-3 also conducted further surveys in the back yard and found all readings < 1ug/m3.
START-3 returned to 125 West 4th street in Kemah, Texas to monitor clothes and boots worn by the nephew of Ms Faulhber the night of the spill. The Lumex unit finds the clothes to read 16ug/m3 and the boots to read <1 ug/m3. START-3 packaged and took the clothes for disposal. The boots were released to the nephew.
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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