Safety and Risk Services personnel suited up in hazmat gear to clean a hydrochloric acid spill in the parking lot east of Clark Hall and Centennial Library Monday, according to Industrial Hygiene Specialist Terese Anderson.
Workers washed off the area, spread a base powder over the acid and roped off the area, closing down two disabled parking spaces in the process.
Anderson was supervising the cleanup, but declined to comment further.
Program Specialist for Parking and Transportation Services Danielle Gilliam said PATS will relocate the two Americans with Disabilities Act parking places affected by the spill. Gilliam said the origin of the spill is unknown but the area is no longer hazardous, although students should avoid walking on the area for a few days.
UNM student Jose Gechem’s car tires were soaked in the acid spill.
“I parked here around ten, because my brother had a handicapped permit and it looks like somebody dropped some acid and they didn’t tell our staff people and it looks like my tire is damaged from the acid.”
Gechem said he planned to get the tires examined by a professional technician and bill UNM if there is any damage.
“I will have to call somebody from the University and from insurance and find out if they are going to pay for my tire.”
