Mercury spill in Schoolcraft Co.

A chemical spill at a business in downtown Manistique has been confirmed to be mercury.

Manistique Public Safety responded to a chemical spill at a downtown business on Monday night.

A suspicious liquid had been found at a common entrance to the business’s upstairs apartment.  The building’s owner, Richard Ketick, contacted police after an employee of a tenant business had told him about the spill.

Police closed off the area.  They were assisted by the City of Manistique Department of Public Works and constructed a containment berm around the liquid.

The Luce, Mackinac, Alger, and Schoolcraft District Health Department arrived on the scene Tuesday afternoon and confirmed the liquid to be mercury.

Police say they are continuing to investigate its source.

No injuries were reported.  Police and health officials do not believe there is any additional risk to the public.

The Schoolcraft Emergency Management, the Michigan Department of Environmental Equality, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency all assisted at the scene.  A private firm will be contacted to clean up the mercury spill.