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Oglethorpe County High School Mercury Spill

 
Site Contact:
Randy Nattis
On-Scene Coordinator

(Nattis.Randy@epa.gov)

Site Location:
749 Athens Road
Lexington, GA 30648
 response.epa.gov/OglethorpeHighMercurySpill

On December 11, 2009, OSC Alyssa Hughes mobilized (with START contractor) to Ogelthorpe County High School following reports of spilled mercury in the school computer room. OSC Hughes met with the school safety officer and GEMA officials for a debrief of the situation. According to GEMA officials, a student had reportedly brought a Copenhagen smokeless tobacco container filled with mercury to school. During class the student removed the container and some material was spilled on the floor. The teacher recognized the material as mercury and notified school officials.


Last screening prior to application of epoxy / sealant Room 421, staged computers from Room 419 Final heating and venting of room 419 Final heating and vent of room 419 Personal item clearing / screening The Oglethorpe Echo - Newspaper Article The Oglethorpe Echo - Newspaper Article CS-102 - Hg Cleaning solution House Mercury vacuum being used in 510 Newspaper Article House House House Screening and documentation Screening assembly line Heating of backpacks and shoes Interviewing of students prior to screening of backpacks and shoes Sectioning off the parking lot for staging of tables and chairs of the source room Clearing activities of the Gym Up close of potential mercury bead Location of potential mercury beads Gym remediation Gym remediation Bagged and tagged items Oglethorpe gym and USES trailer Site assessment in the school cafeteria Site assessment in the school main office Assessment activities in the school bathroom Screening outside door of source room
For additional information, visit the Pollution/Situation Report (Pol/Sitreps) and the Notices sections.