Posted on 11/19/2009 10:53:54 PM PST by VR-21
George Orwell where are you? Here is the headline in my local newspaper today: "Mercury Removal from T.F. [Twin Falls, Idaho] Apartment complex results in $50,000 bill." That's right - fifty grand. Two ounces of mercury were found in the road that leads into an apartment complex. It cost local, state, and the federal governments $50,000 to clean up the two ounce catastrophe. Read the EPA report here.
This is a picture of the clean up crew:
George Orwell where are you? Here is the headline in my local newspaper today: "Mercury Removal from T.F. [Twin Falls, Idaho] Apartment complex results in $50,000 bill." That's right - fifty grand. Two ounces of mercury were found in the road that leads into an apartment complex. It cost local, state, and the federal governments $50,000 to clean up the two ounce catastrophe. Read the EPA report here.
This is a picture of the clean up crew:
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Only $50,000? Obviously there was not much effort put into this. Or maybe the same guys who scored the health care bill cooked up this number as well.
There is no way that this cleanup would have cost $50k. Somebody is lying.
Perhaps someone is trying to justify a federal grant.
We are truly becoming a nanny state!
I remember as a little kid, being fascinated by a little spot of mercury on Dad’s work bench. PS, I grew up in Twin Falls and that article is a little embarassing.
Green Jobs!!!
[[$50,000 to clean up a 2 oz mercury spill]]
Well, have you ever seen how elusive mercury is? It probably took em two and 1/2 yeasrs to catch it all- Everytime they stepped on the puddle, it burst into thousands of tiny little puddles- Seems like it shoulda cost around $50,000,000 (at least that’s what I’d charge)
From the EPA report:
“On September 15, 2009, a flooring contractor on the way to install carpeting at an 8 unit apartment complex in Twin Falls, Twin Falls County, Idaho, observed what appeared to be beads of free elemental mercury in the parking lot of the complex. The contractor immediately notified the local fire and police.”
So, just who was the contractor I wonder? I would like to know in case I ever need one in Idaho. I’ll make sure not to hire the wuss.
[[Green Jobs!!!]]
Silver jobs
Ok It cost the taxpayers of Washington State and taxpayers across the United States. About 35 billion dollars for about 35 miles of Choo Choo’s or the rabid transit train system!!!
“I can still remember in my junior high school class where we would get a little mercury and make our dimes shine! The stuff was handled by all us kids and not just once.”
I was about to post the same thing.
I think most all kids in my times played with mercury
from broken thermometers. Coating coins and rolling little balls of mercury was great fun.
I also remember kids eating lead paint chips.
What was that recent report of a stupid CFL breaking over a carpet, and special hazmat teams employed to clean it up, costing thousands?
Psst ... I am a tax payer in Washington state and you’re right and it sucks. However, that cleanup could have cost $2k to 5k, tops. I used too work closely with Hazmat teams.
Somebody is trying to justify money they want or money they already have and want to spend.
I have been retired for over seven years, so things might have changed, but I doubt it’s changed that much.
Same experience, but then we were dare devil kids. We rode our bikes without a skid lid! Why, I was even a crossing guard and never lost one of my charges and I was only eight.
I always thought I would never grow up and be one of those who always said “in my day . . . “ but I guess I’m going to turn out just like mom and pop.
Am I the only person who remembers breaking open thermometers and playing with the ball of Mercury?
I did it too. We also used to break open light switches to get mercury out of the capsules inside of them.
I imagine I am on some list somewhere now...
Isn’t there a chemical that will bind to mercury and make it into a solid you can vacuum up? Seem to recall something like that. Hope the contractor that reported this “spill” doesn’t like to eat swordfish—lots more to worry about there than loose bubbles on asphalt.
I think zinc powder, sulfur or gold, there may be others. Never use home vac to clean up. I didn’t do the cleanup, I just worked with the crew when I needed them.
I did some research after my last post.
Heck, that $50k might be correct! In 1995, $25k was not unusual for cleanup of a small mercury spill. Ouch!
I’m not saying that is that any time government is involved it will cost to much!!! You or I could do for $50.00!
Don’t drop one of those energy efficient light bulbs!
The two ways I am familar with are to pick it up with a syringe or if something is volumetrically contaminated, use heat to vaporize it and then condense it (basically distill it). Part of the problem with disposing of large quantities of mercury is that there really isn’t a practical way to chemically stabilize it.
At least they didn’t evacuate Idaho.
“There is no way that this cleanup would have cost $50k. Somebody is lying.”
No the numbers are right, they just didn’t break them out for us. 10.00 to pick up the mercury and put it an an old jelly bottle. 49,990.00 for 2 747’s to fly the guys in.
I remember, about 15 years ago, going to some old DuPont laboratories that were closing and selling off the higher cost lab equipment. About 6 months later, they bulldozed the buildings without removing any of the equipment that was left over. I wonder how many old barometers and manometers and other mercury containing contraptions were plowed under.
OMG! I am laughing so hard. Why am I thinking of that movie Monsters Inc where the evil electricity guy convinces the monsters that a child’s touch is a biohazzard (not that mercury isn’t poisonous, but they used to drill it INTO OUR MOUTHS!) and would wear these suits to wash and shave the monster after being touched by a child.
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