Homeowners report the accidental release of mercury in their residence (a residential single-wide trailer located at Route 3, lot 51-D, Good Water, Coosa County, Alabama) in October 2008 but not revealed to authorities until May 2009. Reported to EPA June 12, 2009. Responding OSC and ADEM, ERRS and START team determine high levels of mercury inside manufactured home. Homeowners relocated and work begun to try and remove contaminated portions of home.
Personal belongings removed and either saved/stored in polybags within connex box or destroyed. Homeowners reloacted through CIC, ERRS and USACE assistance. Response activities to lower mercury vaopr levels in resdience inaffective after tearing out bedroom (source of spill) to framing. All subfloor removed. START conducted hourly monitoring - unsuccesful.
Existing unit destroyed and placed in roll-off boxes for disposal. USACE activated to appraise existing unit, assist in lodging expenses, per diem and incidentals of relocated family (2 adults) and to locate replacement unit meeting URA standards. Lead OSC also met with FEMA and GSA representatives along with USACE staff to locate manufactured home that would meet specifications and functionality of exisiting unit. Unit transferred through SF-122 process. Court Order followed (not related to incident) so USACE had to find replcaement unti on open market.
Find and with homeowners consent, purchase replacemet unit by USACE representatives. Send 104E notification to homeowners for cost recovery purposes. Place replacemernt unti on property located at Route 3, 51-D, Goodwater, Alabama. Set up time to have ERRS/START/ADEM present to analyse remaining personal belongings stored in connex box on property prior to their reentry into the clean replcaement unit.
High levels of mercury in previous residence
The use of existing federal assets for emergency response purposes
The transfer of federal property to private residents
Interpretation of the URA as it applies to mercury responses
The reintroduction of numerous personal items that meet and/or are just below the 10,000 threshold
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