Poe Hall: Federal agency had difficulty reaching university leaders for several weeks, records show
Emails obtained through public records requests and sources show that NC State University delayed federal agencies and the university’s ability to address Poe Hall, a contaminated building on the campus.
Records show the Environmental Protection Agency and an NC State administrator had difficulty reaching university leadership regarding Poe Hall for several weeks.
Separate memos show a federal health investigation into Poe Hall stalled for months as the Centers for Disease Control waited for the green light from NC State. One memo from January indicated that NC State’s counsel did not ‘anticipate the need for any additional help’ from the agency. The university later reversed course.
Poe Hall updates meeting scheduled for Monday
The revelation comes ahead of a virtual meeting the university will host about Poe Hall on Monday.
The meeting is taking place 129 days after the university abruptly shut down the former education and psychology building following reports of cancer and subsequent building testing, which showed high levels of cancer-causing chemicals, PCBs.
Since the closure, WRAL’s 5 On Your Side confirmed 152 cancer cases in people who worked or studied in Poe Hall. WRAL began collecting the reports after NC State said it had no plans to keep records of illness and cancer in people who spent time in Poe Hall.
Chancellor Randy Woodson, Provost Warwick Arden, and two epidemiologists will speak at the meeting.
“NC State continues to work diligently to better understand Poe Hall’s environment,” the announcement for the meeting read.
Yet, records show the work to address concerns over Poe Hall and understand the building’s environment stalled several times.
‘Running into a dead end,’ Records show an NC State administrator had difficulty reaching the university’s Environmental Health and Safety Department about Poe Hall
In an email from Aug. 1, 2023, a university employee alerted the College of Education’s assistant dean of operations, Hector Junco, to several instances of breast cancer within Poe Hall. The employee implored Junco to have NC State investigate a potential environmental cause. Junco responded, noting he would help initiate an investigation.
Junco followed up with the employee six weeks later, detailing several delays.
“Based on the email you sent me; I reached out to the university’s office of environmental health and safety. After a couple of times of running into a dead end, I finally spoke and was able to discuss what the concerns are in Poe Hall,” Junco wrote. “I’m hopeful we could announce the investigation soon and get to the bottom of what is going on.”
Several employees working in Poe Hall confirmed to WRAL News they did not receive news of an investigation into Poe Hall at the time.
On Nov. 17, NC State closed Poe Hall after environmental testing revealed high levels of PCBs. The cancer-causing chemicals were used in building construction during the mid-20th century and later outlawed.
EPA learns about Poe Hall closure partly through WRAL article
An email thread from Nov. 2023 shows EPA PCB coordinator Terri Crosby-Vega sent a WRAL article about the closure of Poe Hall to around 100 EPA employees.
“Looks like I should schedule a PCB visit at NC State,” one employee responded.
However, WRAL’s 5 on Your Side confirmed that the EPA never visited Poe Hall.
On Nov. 21, NC State’s Emergency Preparedness Senior Director Amy Orders wrote an email connecting Crosby-Vega with Robert Segura, the director of the university’s environmental health and safety department.
Twenty days later, on Dec. 11, Crosby-Vega reached back out to Segura and Orders.
“I still have not heard anything from the university about this situation. Is there an NC State contact to discuss the situation? If there is any sort of remediation being performed, you must contact the EPA,” Crosby-Vega wrote.
Chancellor Woodson said he was unaware of delays and unable to comment because he did not speak with the EPA directly.
The EPA confirms that it is now in contact with the university.
CDC memo shows university counsel did not ‘anticipate any need for help’ from health investigators
In Nov. 2023, the state Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to WRAL that NC State requested a Health Hazard Evaluation. The federal health investigation can review reports of illness, conduct medical exams, and study workplace conditions.
On Feb. 5, WRAL 5 On Your Side reported that NC State was no longer participating in the Health Hazard Evaluation. The report prompted NCSU education faculty to pass a vote of no confidence against NC State Chancellor Woodson and Provost Arden.
On Feb. 12, the CDC confirmed to WRAL News that NC State had re-requested a Health Hazard Evaluation.
Chancellor Woodson told WRAL News that NC State decided to re-request the evaluation after it received new PCB test results from samples collected in December. However, a separate CDC memo from January claims counsel representing NC State did not ‘anticipate the need for any additional help’ from the agency.
‘Understanding the environment,’ Testing of Poe Hall and next steps
In December, NC State hired a consulting firm, Geosyntec Consultants, to study Poe Hall and conduct further PCB building samples.
Chancellor Woodson confirms to WRAL News that the university has not let other agencies or investigators start testing Poe Hall as of March 24.
“We’re the building owner. It’s critical for us to evaluate the building and understand what the nature of the building is,” Woodson said.
Woodson told 5 On Your Side that testing of Poe Hall should be done by the end of April.
“We feel very responsible for understanding the environment in the building so that individuals and their health providers can understand if there is a relationship,” Woodson said. “In order to fully engage people about health implications, we have to have questions answered about the environment in the building.”
‘It’s crass,’ Current and former staff and students in limbo
Woodson says the university will not comment on individual health concerns until the testing is complete.
“If you have questions about your own personal health, please speak with your medical provider,” a statement about Monday’s meeting read.
Monday’s meeting is only open to current staff and students. The university says it will be recorded and posted to its website after.
Of the 152 people who have reported cancer to WRAL 5 On Your Side, more than half are former students and staff. Because they don’t have an active university ID, they do not have access to the meeting.
One former NC student with breast cancer told 5 On Your Side that she received solicitation for donations from the university but was never told anything about Poe Hall. She called the university’s handling of the matter ‘crass.’
The university provided a website for anyone with questions regarding the building.
