by John Sucansky
Thisweek Newspapers
Two juveniles ages 15 and 16, may be charged with felony third-degree burglary for breaking into a locked storage shed on the former Brockway Glass property and contaminating Rosemount Woods manufactured home park with elemental mercury.

The incident started the evening of Sept. 6 and involved the two juveniles taking the two quart containers of the mercury from Brockway and taking it to a playground where they splashed it on themselves and several other neighborhood children.

From there, the mercury was tracked into as many as 13 homes. Within an hour of receiving a call from a parent reporting the incident at 6:46 p.m., Rosemount police and fire department personnel shut down the childrenís fun and the entire neighborhood.

ìI just want to say thank you to the police department, the fire department,î said one resident during a Wednesday meeting for residents at the Rosemount Community Center. ìThey kept us informed throughout the entire night. They did an excellent job in communicating to us.î

Controlling the spread of the mercury was a challenge because of the high concentration of people and homes in Rosemount Woods.

Finding out who to test and where the mercury was became complicated as night approached. Forty-nine people were decontaminated that night and many were ushered from their homes without having a chance to grab personal belongings. Some were housed at the AmericInn in Apple Valley by the Red Cross.

Representatives from the city, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Dakota County Public Health Department and the Minnesota Public Health Department will test all 182 units in the park.

Ten people have been evaluated at a hospital for mercury exposure, but as of Thursday no one had shown symptoms associated with mercury exposure.

ìWe know of no person who has any negative health effects because of the incident,î said Rita Messing of the Minnesota State Health Department. ìWe are confident that this situation will stay the same.î

A few outdoor areas in the Rosemount Woods where mercury was spilled were still cordoned off as of Thursday until cleanup crews complete their work.

While some residents at Wednesday nightís meeting expressed concerns about their health and their childrenís, others wanted to know when they would be able to return to their homes. The investigation and cleanup has displaced 38 residents. They were told it might be another two weeks until the homes were tested and declared safe.

ìWe know you have been deeply uprooted,î said Kay Dickison, deputy director of Dakota County Public Health. ìWe canít imagine what that has been like.î

Many also were interested to know how safe the area was now. They were assured that the cleanup went well and there appear to be no clear health risks.

ìIt is OK for your children to go to school and play with other children, too,î Dickison said.
Investigation

Rosemount Police are investigating the incident and may bring charges against the two juveniles. The MPCA is currently investigating whether rules on hazardous materials were violated and which parties should be held financially responsible for the cleanup costs.

Alan Cox, Rosemount communications coordinator, said the MPCA has estimated the cleanup cost to be $500,000.

The site the mercury was found on is the former Brockway Glass factory. According to Cox, the Brockway plant closed down Jan. 1, 1985. Recently, Contractor Property Developers Company purchased the land to develop into a residential neighborhood.

Between 1985 and the present, Cox said the factory was used as a commercial warehouse. He said at this time it isnít clear why the mercury was there, but he has heard unconfirmed reports from former employees of the plant that mercury was used in the glass manufacturing process.

An Environmental Assessment of the property was mandated before it could be developed for housing and it identified several areas that needed to be reclaimed before building could begin. Cox said the assessment contained a list of various chemicals inventoried on the site, but at the time, there was no indication there was any violation in the storage of mercury.

If the two juveniles are charged and found guilty, Cox said they may be responsible for paying restitution to the homeowners who lost items in the cleanup process due to their contamination. Past property owners may also be liable, according to Steve Lee, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Elemental mercury is a naturally occurring element found in rocks, soil, water, air and living things. It is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature and in its pure form is a shiny, silver-white, odorless liquid. If heated, mercury vaporizes into a toxic, colorless gas that is odorless.

Mercury can damage the central nervous system, kidneys and liver. Both high level/short-term and low level/long-term exposure can lead to serious health problems.

High level/short-term exposure can cause skin rashes, diarrhea and respiratory distress. Repeated exposure to low levels can cause muscle tremors, irritability, personality changes or rashes.

Nerve damage from mercury may start with a loss of sensitivity in hands and feet, difficulty in walking or slurred speech. In rare cases it has caused paralysis and even death.

More information and regular updates can be found on the cityís Web site at www.ci.rosemount.mn.us.

John Sucansky is at roselake.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.

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