On April 21, 2018, EPA was notified by Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ) that a person with a rifle equipped with mercury recoil reducers was shooting at an outdoor range and noticed a mercury leak. He packed up the rifle and took it home in the cab of his truck. Once home, he took the rifle apart in his basement. UDEQ measured elevated levels of mercury in the truck and at the residence.
On April 22, 2018, EPA Response OSC Stevenson arrived at the site with START and ERRS contractors. The visible mercury at the shooting range was removed. The stock of the rifle, which included two recoil reducers, a soft gun case, a duffle bag, a jacket, and a pair of shoes were disposed. The OSC and contractors are still working on the spotting scope, bi-pod, and bench top tripod to determine if they can be decontaminated.
Currently the residence measures below the recommended action level for normal residency of 1 ug/m3, and is therefore safe for occupancy. Additionally, the measurement of the cab of the truck is below 1 ug/m3.
