Snead State Chemical
Thought To Be Aluminum

July 2, 2008
Snead State Community College President Dr. Robert Exley announced today the results of a chemical test conducted on a substance discovered Monday on the campus.

The substance was contained in a twenty-five-gallon drum located in the basement of the cafeteria. U.S. Environmental Services of Birmingham was called in to handle the clean-up efforts and to identify the substance. Preliminary reports indicate that the substance is aluminum.

“The preliminary report did spike for aluminum, but according to the testing agency, this is not a serious concern at this time. Testing will be complete in a couple of more days to rule out any heavy metals. All workers were cleared to return to work, and the college no longer is required to maintain a twenty-four hour guard at the area. We have the basement locked up until the agency returns to remove the substance,” said Dr. Exley.

Two members of Snead State’s maintenance crew, Supervisor of Facilities and Maintenance Steve Williams and Randall Seay, and six students who were working for the College as seasonal employees were in the basement at the time the substance was found.

Under Dr. Exley’s leadership, Snead State Community College has implemented a program of hiring part-time summer workers to aggressively clean-up and maintain the college grounds. The majority of the summer workers will become Snead State students this fall.

“Mr. Williams did a wonderful job in immediately removing the students out of the basement and following the proper procedures in securing the area until the substance could be identified. As a precaution, they were all examined and released from Marshall Medical Center South on Monday and have all reported back to work,” said Mr. Exley.