Utah State University (USU) evacuated Mountain View Tower dormitory for the second time in a week due to a chemical incident. Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident.
Utah State University ( USU ) evacuated Mountain View Tower dormitory for the second time in a week due to a chemical incident. On Thursday, January 16, 2024, students were evacuated following a chemical spill. While details about the spill and any possible injuries were initially unavailable, authorities conducted a thorough assessment of the room where the incident occurred. USU Public Safety requested assistance from law enforcement partners to further evaluate the situation.
As a precautionary measure, residents were asked to leave Mountain View Tower on Tuesday evening, January 23, 2024, while hazardous materials experts conducted an inventory of items from the room. The university later confirmed that a small amount of uranium rock ore was found in the room. This type of ore is legally obtainable both online and in nature. USU officials assured that there is no indication the chemicals originated from a university laboratory and that they are all commercially and legally available. However, the exact number of chemicals discovered, their quantities, and their source remain unclear. An individual identified as Joshua Peter Jager, 20, was at the center of the incident. He was found in possession of a mixture of chemicals in his dorm room. Following the initial discovery, Jager was isolated for potential contamination and subsequently arrested by USU Police for misdemeanor charges, including disorderly conduct and creating a catastrophe. According to court documents, Jager stated to officers that he was attempting to 'neutralize' the chemicals after being warned earlier in the day to remove all chemicals from his dorm room. The initial incident resulted in a mass evacuation and decontamination efforts estimated between $10,000-$20,000, excluding labor costs. University officials confirmed that while all chemicals were legally obtainable, they violated housing policies. The presence of a small piece of uranium ore during the investigation prompted the involvement of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force. USU President Elizabeth Cantwell commended the students who reported safety concerns, calling them 'true Upstanders' and potentially preventing harm to others in the building. The university stated that Environmental Health & Safety will continue monitoring the room and has contracted a hazardous materials company for the final removal of remaining substances. Officials anticipate this will be the last evacuation required, with future work limited to the restoration of the room. Neither the university nor police have disclosed the intended purpose of the chemicals or their source
CHEMICAL INCIDENT USU MOUNTAIN VIEW TOWER DORMITORY EVACUATION HAZARDOUS MATERIALS JOSHUA PETER JAGER FBI
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