On Friday, Sept. 20, Jennifer Christian with Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Field Office 3 was contacted by a remodeling contractor concerning disposal of mercury contaminated carpeting at a triplex home in Spirit Lake. The contractor reported the basement carpet and carpet pad contained approximately 3 tablespoons of mercury that had spilled from the pendulum of a grandfather clock. Prior to calling in the spill, the renovators rolled-up the carpet and pad, placed it in large garbage bags, and stored it in the garage.
Over that weekend, IDNR field office staff worked with the property owner. The owner felt the mercury had been adequately cleaned up and asked the local fire department to visually confirm. At that time, the residence had not been screened to confirm clean up.
On Monday, Sept. 23, the owner of the residence made the required notification to National Response Center (NRC). EPA On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs) visited the residence to investigate the mercury contamination on Sept. 25 and Sept. 25.
EPA OSCs found mercury vapor readings above their instrument’s upper limit of 50,000 nanograms and viewed microbeads in the basement area. Based on the visual confirmation of mercury; the very high vapor levels; photos the remodeling company provided the EPA OSCs of the large amount of mercury originally discovered; and detectable levels of mercury vapors in the middle home of the triplex, there was no question additional cleanup work is warranted.
EPA OSCs also found mercury present on clothing and in vehicles of employees of the renovation contractor and in the adjacent unit of the triplex. The levels in the adjacent unit were below response action levels.
EPA OSCs provided technical assistance, guidance, and oversite of the homeowners cleanup contractor based on the complexity and age of the spill.
On October 10th EPA conducted final clearance sampling showing that the removal goals had been met and that no further actions were needed. EPA demobilized from the site on October 11th as this site is now completed with no further action needed.
