BOISE, Idaho (AP) _ Federal officials are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of vandals who authorities say caused mercury to escape into the soil by damaging an old mercury milling site south of Homedale in southwestern Idaho.

Hazardous materials specialist Carrie Wontorcik of the Bureau of
Land Management says the agency is asking people to stay away from the site due to possible health hazards from the escaped mercury.

Workers are trying to determine how much mercury escaped.

Officials in a statement on Friday said a fence is being built around the area and signs are being put up warning of structural
hazards at the site.

BLM officials say the milling apparatus was likely last used in 1966.

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