On 4/27/06 EPA was notified of a mercury spill at the Timberline High School and attached Junior High School. The Sheriff's Department Incident Commander (through the Idaho State Communications Center) requested EPA to respond to assist the local authorities and school assess the situation and advise on cleanup needed. OSC Barber and 4 START members arrived before noon 4/28/06 at the school to begin work. About 8 to 12 pounds of mercury were involved, with a fraction of this amount being spilled throughout parts of the school. Cleanup and air sampling was finished on 5/1/06. As of 5/3/06 preliminary lab analysis indicated that the remaining mercury vapor levels had been reduced to acceptable, if not preferred, levels to resume school operations in the affected areas.
