Fallon Deatherage-Bradley

News Editor

A white powdery substance was discovered leaking out of an envelope at the Pond Student Union (PSUB) mail center around 1 p.m. Monday afternoon.

Public Safety, Pocatello Police, and the Pocatello Fire Department responded, closed off only the mail center and allowed the surrounding offices and regular building operations to continue as normal. The air was turned off to prevent a possible spread of contaminants.

A District 6 hazardous waste team arrived by 4:30 p.m. to determine the composition of the power. At 6:30 p.m., they determined the substance was not a threat to anyone. The workers exposed in the mail center were quarantined in an ambulance where their health was monitored until the substance was determined to be non-hazardous.

Authorities sent an ISU alert to students asking them to avoid the area. At 6:30 p.m., they sent a second alert giving the all clear. The envelope was turned over to the Pocatello Police Department for further investigation.

“Our team was able to identify the substance,” said Matt Williams of the Pocatello Fire Department. “Everyone is safe, and those who were exposed were able to go home.”