KC Exonerated from All Asbestos Allegations

KILGORE — Kilgore College has received letters from both the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), which exonerate the college of all wrongdoing related to the asbestos allegations made in November to the Longview News-Journal. The allegations were made by Dalton Smith, KC’s coordinator of physical plant. Both agencies have closed their investigations and the college is not required to provide any further documentation. Neither agency found any basis of fact that supported the allegation that KCstudents, staff or the public were ever in danger due to asbestos exposure. Both agencies also found no basis of fact to support improper abatement or disposal of asbestos materials on any KC property.

In a letter to the college dated March 23, TDSHS closed the complaint investigation March 11 “with a determination that the complaint was not substantiated.” TCEQ was on campus three days from November through January and found five minor violations, none of which were asbestos-related.

KC corrected all violations, submitted requested documentation and received a letter from the TCEQ dated March 26 that stated that the college provided “adequate compliance documentation” and “no further action is required concerning this investigation.”