There were six mercury spills reported
to the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
(VT DEC) in 1999, and four in 2000. The reportable
quantity for mercury spills in Vermont is one pound
for releases to the environment. This does not apply
to accidental spills that are contained. Table 10
shows the number of spills reported in Vermont by
year. Table 11 shows the number of spills reported
by facility type since 1973. Most of these spills
occurred in schools and involved less than one pound
of mercury. Other spills (since 1973) have occurred
in residences, wastewater/water facilities, industrial/business
facilities, medical facilities, and transportation
incidents. The largest spill that the VT DEC is aware
of occurred in a residence and involved 50 pounds
of mercury. All except for one of the mercury spills
in schools were reported in 1997 or later and were
less than one pound. One elemental mercury spill of
six pounds occurred at a battery manufacturer.
Mercury Spills Reported to the
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
| Year |
Number
of Spills |
| 1973-1990 |
4 |
| 1991 |
2 |
| 1992 |
2 |
| 1993 |
0 |
| 1994 |
0 |
| 1995 |
1 |
| 1997 |
1 |
| 1998 |
5 |
| 1999 |
6 |
| 2000 |
4 |
Mercury Spills Reported in Vermont
by Facility Type, 1973-2000
| Facility Type |
Number
of Spills |
| School |
10 |
| Residence |
4 |
| Wastewater/water facility |
4 |
| Industrial/business facility |
5 |
| Medical facility |
1 |
| Transportation Incident |
1 |
| Total |
25 |
Source: Vermont
Department of Environmental Conservation
UW-Extension