EPA Says ‘All Clear’ After Phoenix High School Mercury Spill

The Environmental Protection Agency has completed its emergency response following a mercury spill at Agua Fria High School in Phoenix.

An EPA news release Friday said mercury contamination has been cleaned up at the school and at homes that were affected.

The EPA’s Emergency Response program was mobilized on February 13 after being notified of the spill.

Over the past 11 days, the belongings of approximately 450 students and staff were screened for mercury. Mercury screenings were also conducted at 66 homes of students and staff whose belongings were found to be contaminated with mercury.

Six of the inspected homes had moderate levels of mercury contamination and three of the homes required more extensive decontamination with two families temporarily relocating. The families displaced by the decontamination returned to their homes February 24.

The EPA said, at the school, mercury contamination in all classrooms, locker rooms, outside areas and buses impacted by the spill has been cleaned up. However, restoration of these areas is not complete.

The Avondale Police Department is leading the ongoing investigation in the February 12th spill. Federal law allows the EPA three years to investigate the cause of the spill and recover costs.

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