News Release
For Immediate Release: April 26, 2010
Contact Person: Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, 301-334-7730
Mercury Exposure Update
According to Dr. Wendell Teets, Superintendent of Garrett County Schools, Southern Garrett High School will conduct classes at an alternative site of Garrett 8 Cinemas beginning at 8:40 on Tuesday morning, April 27 th . Bag lunches will be provided for students that eat school lunch and will be available for purchase. Students will ride their usual bus to the alternative site. Walking students need to go to their assigned bus stop.
Modified instruction will occur at this facility until health officials deem SHS may be reopened for students and staff.
According to Health Officer Rodney Glotfelty, as of Thursday afternoon Region III of the Environmental Protection Agency has been supervising the mercury cleanup process at Southern High School.
So far the areas of contamination have been isolated by the contractor doing the cleanup. The majority of those areas have been satisfactorily cleaned to detection levels lower than recommended by Maryland Department of Environment and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Environmental Protection Agency.
Three additional areas are currently being treated and should be cleared of contamination soon. An additional area of concern is the automotive shop area of the school. This part of the school can be isolated and restricted until it is satisfactorily cleaned.
Additional composite air sampling is being conducted to insure the safety of the students and staff. As soon as confirmatory lab tests indicate it is safe for students and staff to return to the building, exclusive of the auto shop area, the public will be informed.