OSC Art Smith and OSC Ben Franco were mobilized at the request of the KDEP to respond to a release of fifteen pounds of elemental mercury at a rural location along Butler Road in Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky. The mercury had been stored in a barn. When the owner passed away, a person hired to clean out the barn accidentally spilled the mercury onto the lawn and not knowing the hazards it presented, tracked it into his home and his vehicle, at a location approximately 9 miles away along Madisonville Road, north of Hopkinsville.
EPA retained CMC, Inc. and Tetra Tech EMI to assist with investigation and clenup of the mercury release.