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Mercury Spill Cleanup Completed on Putnam Road in Killingly, Conn.

Release Date: 04/09/2007
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Killingly, Conn. – April 9, 2007) – EPA has completed its cleanup of a mercury spill discovered on Putnam Road in Killingly.

Last week, EPA pulled up sections of Putnam Road and used a small excavator to carefully scrape 15 yards of material from a 40 x 12 foot area beneath the roadway where the mercury pool had been spotted. The contaminated material was shipped off site for disposal at a permitted facility. During the excavation activities, EPA monitored the air to ensure that people were not being exposed to traces of mercury vapor. With EPA’s work completed, the town of Kingly has repaired and reopened Putnam Road. EPA will continue to work closely with CT DEP to determine if there is a need for further investigation.

With regard to the start of the fishing season on April 21st, DEP and DPH continue to evaluate whether portions of the Five Mile River and its tributaries will need to remain closed to fishing. More information will be available in the coming days. In the meantime, people should avoid this area while the investigation continues.

Elemental mercury is a liquid form heavier than water; two tablespoons weigh about one pound.

More information:

EPA's mercury spill advice (epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/mercury/faq/spills.htm)
Northeast District Department of Health - Linda J. Colangelo, (860) 774-7350 x 14
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection - Dwayne Gardner, (860) 424-3938

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