LOGAN — Officials at Utah State University evacuated a dormitory for the second time in a week as investigators conducted a final assessment and cleanup of a room where a former student had improperly stored chemicals, including uranium ore.
According to University Spokesperson Amanda DeRito, Mountain View Tower residents were displaced from 6-9 p.m. on Tuesday while hazardous materials experts completed an inventory of items from the room. The evacuation was decided out of an abundance of caution.
DeRito said school officials realized this was a great inconvenience, especially with current winter temperatures. The university provided temporary shelter in campus facilities.
USU Police requested the FBI assess the situation and survey the room again after Environmental Health & Safety found a small piece of uranium ore. The FBI visited campus for further assessment on Jan. 21. Uranium ore is generally safe in its solid form and in small quantities so long as it is handled and stored properly.
Tuesday’s assessment came as a result of several hazmat situations earlier this month.
According to an arrest report, USU police officers were originally called to a fire alarm at the dormitory on Jan. 13. The source or the alarm was traced to the room of Joshua Peter Jager, where the 20-year-old reportedly claimed he was boiling water and vinegar to make potatoes.
Officers reported that when they entered the room, they discovered a large amount of chemicals, including silver nitrate and potassium carbonate. They also found various machinery, tools and large quantities of batteries.
Police suspected Jager was making drugs or explosives, which he later denied. Bomb technicians were called to the scene and confiscated several of the chemicals, later deeming the room was safe.
Emergency crews responded to another fire alarm at the same dorm, Jan 16. As they entered the first floor, Jager met them and admitted to setting the alarm off again.
The suspect told police that he had found more chemicals and was attempting to “neutralize” them. This caused a large amount of hydrochloric acid gas to accumulate, producing a strong chemical smell throughout the first floor of the tower, the probable cause statement detailed.
The initial incident prompted a mass evacuation and required decontamination efforts estimated between $10,000-$20,000, not including labor costs. University officials confirmed that while all chemicals found were legally available, they violated housing policies.
In a statement to those who reported safety concerns, USU President Elizabeth Cantwell said, “These students are true Upstanders and potentially prevented harm to others in the building. Looking out for one another is essential to our mutual safety, and we encourage all students to report safety concerns.”
Jager was arrested and later charged with suspicion of causing a catastrophe, a class A misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, an infraction. He was later released from jail on $2,500 bail.
DeRito confirmed Jager is no longer enrolled at the university and has been banned from campus.