EPA begins decontamination of Oshkosh ricin residence
Federal authorities began cleaning up contamination Wednesday in the residence of a University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh student accused of making ricin.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has taken the lead role in the cleanup, and is being assisted by the Wisconsin National Guard 54th Civil Support Team. Trucks and trailers lined the west side of Frederick Street Wednesday morning while about a dozen people, some outfitted in hazmat suits, carried out decontamination tasks and tested the residence at 803 Frederick St. for the presence of the deadly toxin.
"Our goal today is to make sure the house is in safe, livable condition," said Doug Gieryn, public health director and health officer for Winnebago County.
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Kyle Allen Smith, 21, was arrested Oct. 31 after Oshkosh Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant at the residence and removed ricin, a toxic poison that causes organs to shut down and eventually causes death. Smith has been charged in federal court with possession of ricin and developing, producing, retaining and possessing a toxin for use as a weapon. If convicted he faces up to a life sentence in prison.
A jury trial is scheduled for mid-February.
Ricin is a poison that blocks the ability of cells to synthesize protein, causing organs to shut down and eventually causing death. It is found naturally in castor bean plants, which authorities said was the source of the powder found at Smith's residence.
The cleanup is expected to last through mid-day Thursday, Gieryn said. The EPA's Chicago media office did not return phone calls Wednesday seeking information about the cleanup effort.
During the decontamination process, areas within the residence where ricin was suspected to have been or that test positive for traces of the toxin will be sprayed down with a bleach solution. The solution is allowed to sit on a contaminated surface for a period of time during Federal authorities began cleaning up contamination Wednesday in the residence of a Univeristy of Wisconisn-Oshkosh student accused of making ricin.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agenc has taken the lead role in the cleanup, and is being assisted by the Wisconsin National Guard 54th Civil Support Team. it denaturalizes the proteins within ricin. All areas within the home will be tested to ensure ricin is not present, Gieryn said.
Authorities have said Smith's activities did not pose a threat to the surrounding neighborhood.
"We do believe the ricin in the home is a potential hazard and we want to remove the hazard," Gieryn said. "Once we're done here, the home will be declared free of ricin and can be used as a regular home again."
Access to the home has been restricted since Nov. 2.
Gieryn said it took six weeks to begin the cleanup process due to the nature of the substance.
The county initially worked with the landlord to find a contractor who would be able to properly clean the residence, but discovered it was difficult to test the home to ensure ricin no longer existed in it. Gieryn said that was why the EPA and National Guard Civil Support Team were called in to help.
Jennifer K. Woldt: (920) 426-6676 or jwoldt@thenorthwestern.com; on Twitter, @ONW_Woldt.