The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)
requested federal assistance from EPA Region 7 on July 31, 2025, regarding the
release of approximately one tablespoon of elemental mercury at a high school
in Sabetha, Kansas.
The source of the mercury was a laboratory thermometer that
broke while moving a box in the classroom closet. The local fire department
reported the release to the National Response Center (NRC), filed under report
#1438505.
After KDHE provided the verbal request for federal
assistance, they further facilitated communication between EPA and the Nemaha
Emergency Manager who assisted with the response. The local fire department,
along with school district personnel, responded promptly and secured the site.
Approximately 20 individuals were evacuated from the high school after the
release.
EPA Region 7 dispatched an OSC and another responder to
assess the extent of contamination from the release of mercury. It was later
determined that the source of the release was an antique wall barometer and not
a broken thermometer.
EPA initiated a removal assessment due to the elevated risk
of exposure and potential spread of contamination. The school’s remodeling
contractor who reportedly caused the spill agreed to procure a cleanup
contractor due to the elevated risk of exposure and the spread of
contamination.
The contractors who reportedly caused the spill drove themselves to the
hospital due to exposure and EPA’s OSC and responder screened the hospital hallways
and patient rooms out of an abundance of caution and returned the contractors’
clothes to the high school to be removed along with other items sent away for
disposal during the remediation process.
Contractors hired to perform the remediation performed the
cleanup and removed three 55-gallon drums of debris during the cleanup process.
The EPA OSC returned after the cleanup was complete to
verify mercury concentrations were below levels of concerns.
Once those levels were met, the cleanup was complete and no
further actions are warranted.
