Thread: Mercury cleanup costs Durham schools $70K. Illegal not charg

http://rdu.news14.com/content/school_ne ... ArID=85689
Mercury cleanup costs Durham schools $70K
6/9/2006 1:04 PM
By: Associated Press


Police block off Oak Grove Elementary School on May 24, 2006.
DURHAM -- Durham Public Schools will pay about $70,000 for cleanup and other costs related to last month's mercury spill at an elementary school, school officials said.

Potential contamination from the toxic liquid metal sent one child to the emergency room, and 14 others showed signs of mercury poisoning. Health officials closed Oak Grove Elementary School, a church and 27 homes. They also took several school buses out of service.

All have reopened, a Durham County Health Department official said Thursday.

School system officials said Thursday that they expect to spend about $55,000 for the environmental cleanup and another $10,000 to $15,000 for supplies and services.


Carlos Guerra will not face charges.
Hugh Osteen, assistant superintendent of operation services, said much of the cost can be recovered through insurance, federal programs and grants.

The school was closed May 24 after officials discovered that the four students had brought mercury to the school a day earlier and shared it with friends.

Iglesia de Restauracion, the church where the students got the mercury from a man, also was closed. Carlos Guerra, 21, will not face charges because he did not have a criminal and malicious intent, sheriff's Lt. Don Paschall said.

Guerra, who works for an air conditioning company in Garner, was charged with misdemeanor larceny in Wake County. He's accused of stealing the mercury from a job site.

Carlos Guerra will not face charges

Figures.

Iglesia de Restauracion, the church where the students got the mercury from a man, also was closed. Carlos Guerra, 21, will not face charges because he did not have a criminal and malicious intent, sheriff's Lt. Don Paschall said.

Guerra, who works for an air conditioning company in Garner, was charged with misdemeanor larceny in Wake County. He's accused of stealing the mercury from a job site.
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WHAT?! He STOLE the mercury from a job site, AND caused 70,000 damage and clean-up because it spilled at an elementary school. Imagine what would have happened if the students were exposed. THIS MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL!