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Sept. 20, 2004

Olin Hall Implosion Dust Notice

The University of Louisiana at Monroe, Anderson Excavation, and Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI ­ Implosion Subcontractor) of Phoenix, Maryland announced today that Olin Hall on the ULM Campus will be imploded on Saturday September 25 at 10 a.m.

Implosion is a process where a small amount of explosives is used to disrupt selected supports in a building. This allows gravity to pull the structure down in a controlled manner. CDI has used this implosion method thousands of times around the world during the past 52 years to remove unwanted structures. CDI's safety record is unparalleled.

ULM, Anderson Excavation and CDI would like the community to be aware of three points:

Dust is an unpreventable byproduct of all types of demolition. With a wrecking ball, the building is slowly broken up releasing dust over several months. With implosion, the same overall quantity of dust is released over several seconds, and may linger in the general area for 4 to 6 minutes. Depending on wind speed and direction on the day of the implosion, the dust may or may not reach your properties. As a precautionary measure, we recommend that all windows, doors and air intakes are closed, and cover any other openings that might allow dust to enter your apartment, house or building. It is also recommend that you turn off all exhaust fans before 10:00 a.m. on Saturday as these might draw air into your building through cracks in walls and windows. The dust associated with the implosion does not contain any asbestos. Prior to the implosion Olin Hall went through asbestos abatement.

Early Saturday morning, the University Police Department will set up a safety zone around Olin Hall. This is to prevent people from getting too close. We need your cooperation with the Police to make sure that this is a safe job. For those persons inside the Safety Zone, we ask that you cooperate with the ULM Police Department and contractors. Everything they say to you or ask of you is to minimize inconvenience or to promote safety.

The University of Louisiana at Monroe and Controlled Demolition, Inc. would like to advise you that there will be heavy dust in the block immediately surrounding the demolition site. Dust may also prevail outside and downwind of the safety zone, depending on weather conditions. If you find dust uncomfortable or irritating, or if you have any respiratory conditions that would be aggravated by dust, please stay indoors during the demolition.

Any questions from the public should be directed to Sue Edmunds, Assistant Vice President for External Affairs. She can be reached at 342-3622.

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