Response Fact Sheet #1
Response Fact Sheet #2
The AK Stewart Science Hall is a three story brick building. Facility was used as an undergraduate chemistry, biological sciences, and physical sciences teaching facility and reportedly abandoned in 2007. The chemicals and other hazardous materials/substances were left in place. Tennessee Department of Environmental Conservation (TDEC) performed an initial evaluation and found multiple leaking and damaged containers of hazardous substances and hazardous wastes throughout the three story facility. TDEC observed many instances of incompatible and improper storage. The facility is unsecured and there were overt signs of trespassing and scrapping. Multiple windows are broken and the exterior doors are unsecured. The facility is directly adjacent to residential neighborhoods. OSC’s met with the President of the College in the late afternoon of June 5, 2014 and were granted access to the building. The College President stated that the College does not have the financial resource to address the situation or to secure the facility.
EPA Emergency Response Crews conducted multiple entries into the building to size-up the situation and to determine the magnitude and the threats on Friday, June 6, 2014. Crew observed thousands of chemical bottles ranging in size from 5-gallons to milliliter volumes. There are 39 rooms and laboratories containing varied amounts of hazardous substances. Many of the containers are damaged, leaking, unlabeled, or otherwise compromised. Hazards include flammable, combustible, oxidizing, toxic, air reactive, corrosive, biological, and radioactive materials as well as incompatible storage. Crews also found elevated mercury levels throughout the building. Crews monitored the air outside of the building and did not detect any radiation levels, mercury levels or other hazardous substance levels. Crews secured the building to prevent access.
EPA is mobilizing equipment, supplies and specialized personnel to begin addressing and removing the hazardous substances starting Monday, June 9, 2014.
