Cause of Keizer mercury spill identified; cleanup continues

An apartment resident apparently caused a mercury spill in Keizer that prompted a federal investigation, investigators found Saturday.

On-site coordinator Jeff Fowlow said a man spilled a container with mercury in it while moving materials into a garage July 29. Mop-up crews have recovered five ounces of mercury.

Federal investigators and several city departments have been at the Wyatt Lee Apartments since Friday afternoon, trying to see if residents may have come in contact with the toxic spill. The mercury was tracked to several residents' doorways.

The spill was near a stormwater drain, and although the Keizer Fire Department temporarily sealed off the grate, EPA officials have yet to learn if there are traces of mercury in the water.

Fowlow said they will likely dry some of the sediment from the drain Sunday, and analyze the sample once it has dried to see if there is mercury.

If there are traces, the EPA will have to work with city of Keizer to check other water basins for traces of mercury.

The spill was reported Friday afternoon by a person who thought the mercury was broken glass, according to Keizer Fire Department.

Richard Franklin, a coordinator with the Environmental Protection Agency's Portland office, said investigators reached out to multiple apartment residents Saturday, focusing on families with children and people with nearby garages who may have tracked the spill inside.

"We were worried people may have thought it was metal shavings," Franklin said. "That stuff spreads pretty easily on people's shoes."

Mercury is toxic, and high exposure can harm the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys and immune system.

Respondents did find traces of mercury on several steps, but according to Franklin, it was not inside the apartment units.

Crews have been working Saturday to suck up the spill using a type of vacuum filter with special filters for the hazardous waste.

Fowlow said many of the larger, hardened beads of mercury have been mopped from the area.

"A spill does create very small beads, that are very difficult to see," Fowlow said.

Crews are continuing cleanup Sunday, and may extend mitigation efforts through the week.

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