Hocking College has hired two contractors to begin removing the mercury in the subfloor of the gymnasium within the Student Center on main campus, starting February 18.

As previously reported, the hazardous material was discovered during the course of attempting to repair water damage to the current wooden flooring.  The original structure of the gymnasium dates back to 1976, when mercury was commonly used in flooring.  The remainder of the Student Center was added to the original gymnasium in 2002.

The gymnasium was closed on December 12, 2013, pending the search for a certified contractor to abate the area and clear the hazardous materials.  KEMRON Environmental Services, Inc., of West Virginia, and Environmental Management Specialists, Inc., of Columbus, have been hired to complete the abatement.  The project timeline is anticipated to be from February 18 – March 25, 2014.

Contractors will construct an isolation tunnel in the Student Center lobby encasing the main entry doors closest to Oakley Hall for the purpose of removing the hazardous materials safely.   Members of the campus community are advised to stay clear of this work area. The main facility entry closest to Oakley Hall will be closed for the duration of the project and all traffic will be redirected to the entry closest to Shaw Hall to access the facility.

All other areas within the Student Center, including the climbing wall, will remain open during the repair work, as tests have shown them to be unaffected by the contamination.  KEMRON will provide real time air quality testing outside the isolation tunnel and main work site throughout the duration of the project to ensure ongoing safety for the users of the facility.