The Site is comprised of two homes. One is a single family home occupied by family of six persons (two adults and four children). The other home is unoccupied and under the care of the previously mentioned family. 

Over the weekend of August 22nd, a mercury spill occurred at the unoccupied home and was tracked to the family home. After an investigation by the Salt Lake County Health Department and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, both properties were found to be contaminated with mercury and the family was moved to temporary lodging. 

The state and county partners notified the EPA and requested assistance on Monday, August 24. EPA Emergency Response Team was mobilized that same day and began work on Tuesday, August 25.

At room temperature, mercury vaporizes into a toxic, colorless, odorless gas and can be easily inhaled, potentially causing significant organ damage and/or complications to the nervous system. Demographics such as children and pregnant women are particularly susceptible to health effects from mercury vapor exposure. 

All members of the response team will exercise extreme caution when handling mercury and mercury contaminated materials. Levels of personal protective equipment will range from level D to level C.

All members of the response team will be cognizant of slips, trips, and falls as well as heat related stressors.

All members of the response team have the authority to stop all work should something hazardous arise that requires further planning and investigation before continuing. 

The objectives of this emergency response are:

1. Ensure the safety of the public and the response team in all removal efforts.

2. Collect, contain and safely dispose of mercury and mercury contaminated materials, both spilled and any that may be found still in containers. This includes not only the known spills in the unoccupied home and the family home, but also assessing if any mercury has been tracked to other locations.

Note - Because the contamination at the unoccupied home does not actively present a threat to any current residents, the family home will be prioritized for clean up efforts.

3. Provide timely, accurate, and transparent communication with the public and all other stakeholders.

The objectives for this operational period are the following:

1. Safely mobilize crews and equipment to the site.

2. Assess extent of mercury contamination, gaining an understanding of where it has tracked and where it has not tracked. 

3. Beginning with the family home, clean mercury contaminated materials when practical and dispose of the contaminated materials when cleaning is impractical or otherwise imprudent.

4. Collect as much spilled mercury as possible from the family home. 

During this operational period, the EPA Response team accomplished the following:

1. Safely mobilize crews and equipment to the site.

- All crew members and equipment safely arrived on site Tuesday, August 25. This includes 1 EPA On-Scene Coordinator, 3 persons from the START contract, and 7 persons from the ERRS contract.

2. Assess extent of mercury contamination, gaining an understanding of where it has tracked and where it has not tracked.

- The EPA Response team used mercury vapor analyzing equipment to assess the temporary lodging that the family occupied after leaving their home, the cars they have used in the interim period, and their neighbors house. All of these locations were deemed uncontaminated by mercury. The team will continue to assess any other locations that may have been cross contaminated, as they are brought to the team's attention.

- The EPA response team confirmed mercury contamination in the unoccupied home, the family home and in the car used on the day of the incident. Beginning with the family home, the team has identified several "hot spots" of mercury contaminated materials, including beads of liquid mercury inside the home and vehicle.

3. Clean mercury contaminated materials when practical, dispose of the contaminated materials when impractical.

- To date, the team has identified many items contaminated with mercury and mercury vapors. These items include but are not limited to bedding, clothing, and some electronics. When practical, the team has cleaned these items for safe return to the homeowners. In many cases, porous items have become saturated with mercury vapors and were not salvageable.

4. Collect spilled mercury from the family home.

- Some beads have been recovered from the home. It is still to be determined whether or not any spilled mercury remains in the house.

The objectives during this operational period are the following:

1. Clear the family home of mercury contamination using overnight time weighted mercury vapor analysis.

2. Begin the cleaning of mercury contamination from the unoccupied home.

3. Clear the family vehicle of mercury contamination.

4. Continue to assess any additional locations that may have been cross contaminated.