RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina State University announced Wednesday that a federal health hazard evaluation of Poe Hall has been halted after staffing reductions at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
The decision leaves the campus community wondering when there will be insight to the ongoing environmental and health concerns surrounding the building.
Chancellor Randy Woodson told faculty, staff and graduate students that the university was notified of the closure to the health evaluation. Recent federal budget cuts have halted all health hazard evaluations across North Carolina.
“I know that this news may be disappointing, especially as we have been awaiting results,” Woodson said in a statement. “I want to reassure you that we will continue to keep you informed.”
Poe Hall has been closed since late 2023 after reports of chemical odors and concerns about potential health risks, like cancer. What followed was a series of investigations and legal actions. The university requested NIOSH’s help earlier this year to investigate the hazards at the site.
In an Oct. 2024 statement, the university referenced a report by environmental consulting firm Geosyntec, released in June, which laid the groundwork for ongoing cleanup plans.
At the time, NC State was talking with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and said that it hoped the HHE would offer additional clarity on health concerns raised by students and employees. However, university officials acknowledged that NIOSH’s process was independent and could involve periods without updates.
Further testing was also conducted in late July and early August by third-party consultants hired by law firms representing individuals with potential legal claims. NC State has declined to comment on those findings, citing ongoing litigation.
While the loss of the NIOSH evaluation is a significant blow to its efforts, the university said that remediation will move forward and updates will continue.
“NC State continues to follow the facts and the science in the evaluation of Poe Hall,” the university said in a previous statement. “We acknowledge that people have health concerns, however, individual health and exposure questions are informed by many factors and are not something that NC State can answer on a general or specific level."
Poe Hall remains closed and university officials said they will continue to share developments related to building remediation and any new testing or evaluations that may arise.
For students, faculty and staff affected by the closure, resources and updates remain available through NC State’s website.