Petersburg’s post office remains closed this week following the spill of mercury from a package last Thursday. Officials are now hoping to reopen the building to customers by Friday, September 21.
A crew of five workers was hoping to finish clean up at the facility by the end of the day Monday. After that the postal service is taking air samples and sending those to Seattle for testing before the building can be reopened to the public.
A spokesman for the Postal Service declined to comment on what was in the package that leaked mercury last Thursday or whether there would be repercussions for the person mailing or receiving it.
In the meantime, limited service will be available at the Petersburg Indian Association’s building on Twelfth Street. Customers can pick up packages there and send out mail that is pre-paid. Officials are hoping to get a credit card machine by Tuesday to accept payment at that temporary location. Customers can print out shipping labels online. Hours at the PIA are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The postal service was hoping to reopen the building over the weekend. Customers who had packages at the post office last week at the time of the spill will not be able to get that mail until the building reopens.
