public boolean saltDoesNotExist(final String salt) {
        final String query = Conca.t(
                "select salt ",
                "from user ",
                "where salt = ?"
        );
        
        final List<Object> values = new ArrayList<Object>();
        final List<Class<?>> types = new ArrayList<Class<?>>();

        values.add(salt);
        types.add(String.class);
        
        try {
            ResultSet rs = execute(query, values, types);

            return !rs.next();
        } catch (Exception e) {
            log4jLogger.error("error occurred while attempting to find salt", e);
        }
        
        return false;
    }