North Third Street in Easton was reopened after a cleanup crew took care of the spill. Watch video
Officials reopened North Third Street in Easton after a contractor neutralized a chemical spill and disposed of it Tuesday afternoon.
Authorities didn't definitively identify the chemical but described it as a strong acid; about a gallon or less of liquid was involved, said Todd Weaver, Northampton County's director of emergency management services.
Found in a trash receptacle, the chemical prompted the closure of the first block of North Third Street.
A city employee who came in contact with the chemical was taken to the hospital as a precaution but was not seriously hurt, officials said.
The chemical was discovered when a worker pulled a bag out of the trash bin and the chemical spilled from the bag onto the pavement, said Jeff Steiert of the county's emergency management services.
It happened around 11:40 a.m. and the road was reopened by 3 p.m.
Besides emergency management officials, Easton firefighters and the Lehigh County hazardous materials team responded to the call.
"Sometimes it's difficult to identify an unknown," Weaver said. "It was safely taken care of."
Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.