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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, September 24, 2021 at 5:38:12 AM
A service of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
Connecting Chemistry and Safety at http://www.dchas.org
All article summaries and tags are archived at http://pinboard.in/u:dchas
Table of Contents (11 articles)
UCCS LIBRARY EVACUATED DUE TO FREON LEAK
Tags: us_CO, education, release, response, freon
NO, PORTALES MOTEL DOESN'T HAVE METH ON TAP
Tags: us_NM, public, follow-up, environmental, meth_lab, sodium_chloride
TARRANT COUNTY BOMBER WHO SET OFF EXPLOSIONS FOR FUN WILL SPEND ALMOST 4 YEARS IN PRISON
Tags: us_TX, public, follow-up, environmental, bomb, explosives, illegal
UPL SAYS DURBAN BEACHES SAFE TO REOPEN AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL BUT EXPERTS SCEPTICAL -
Tags: South_Africa, industrial, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
WEST PHOENIX APARTMENT EVACUATED AFTER CONSTRUCTION CREW DAMAGES GAS PIPELINE
Tags: us_AZ, public, release, response, methane
NON-HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL SPILL CLOSES WEST CHESTER ROAD
Tags: us_OH, transportation, release, response, hydraulic_fluid
HAWKINS, INC. CHEMICAL COMPANY FIXES ST. PAUL STORAGE TANK ISSUES THAT THREATENED MISSISSIPPI RIVER, STATE AGENCY SAYS
Tags: us_MN, industrial, follow-up, environmental, nitric_acid
JUDGE DISMISSES SOME OF FORMER CHEMOURS EMPLOYEES' CLAIMS THEY WERE FIRED FOR REPORTING BELLE SITE WORKPLACE, ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS
Tags: us_WV, industrial, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
SEVERAL PEOPLE EXPERIENCE 'AIRWAY ISSUES' AT PALM SPRINGS DMV
Tags: us_CA, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
POTENTIAL CHEMICAL RELEASE PROMPTS EVACUATION IN RURAL MOWER CTY
Tags: us_IA, public, fire, response, unknown_chemical
E&C ANNOUNCES OVERSIGHT HEARING ON CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD
Tags: public, discovery, environmental
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UCCS LIBRARY EVACUATED DUE TO FREON LEAK
https://www.kktv.com/2021/09/23/uccs-library-evacuated-due-freon-leak/
Tags: us_CO, education, release, response, freon
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - The UCCS library was evacuated on Thursday due to a Freon leak.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department Hazmat Team responded to the library at about 2:45 p.m. The library is on campus just west of N. Union Boulevard and Austin Bluffs Parkway in Colorado Springs. About 1,500 people were evacuated from the building.
A spokesperson with CSFD says the leak was caused by a malfunctioning A/C unit.
The library was closed for the evening. It isn‰??t clear when it will reopen.
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NO, PORTALES MOTEL DOESN'T HAVE METH ON TAP
https://www.abqjournal.com/2432088/what-a-meth.html
Tags: us_NM, public, follow-up, environmental, meth_lab, sodium_chloride
Take this story with a grain of salt.
It started last week when police reported that a Portales motel guest was hit in the eye with a shard of methamphetamine from a sink faucet. Then, police found more of the substance in an ice machine.
Authorities concluded a large amount of meth had made its way into the water system of the Super 8 by Wyndham Portales, shut down the motel, called on a hazmat team and tested the city‰??s water supply, growing concerned it had also been tainted.
But further testing revealed a different crystal-like substance: sodium chloride ‰?? or salt.
A Super 8 manager said the motel reopened Monday.
‰??All I know is that we had a water break and then they got the water line fixed,‰?? the manager told the Journal on Thursday.
When asked about the meth angle, she replied wearily, ‰??I have seen the articles, yes.‰??
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TARRANT COUNTY BOMBER WHO SET OFF EXPLOSIONS FOR FUN WILL SPEND ALMOST 4 YEARS IN PRISON
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2021/09/23/tarrant-county-bomber-who-set-off-explosions-for-fun-will-spend-almost-4-years-in-prison/
Tags: us_TX, public, follow-up, environmental, bomb, explosives, illegal
A Tarrant County man who set off explosions, including one under a bridge in Bedford, and posted video of the destruction online will spend almost four years in federal prison, authorities said.
Nicholas Lloyd Nelson, 38, created his YouTube channel last year to show off his explosive interest. Authorities say he busied himself making chemical explosives in his apartment and using them to blow up trees and blast deep craters in the ground in his suburban neighborhood.
Nelson, a convicted felon living in Bedford, pleaded guilty in June to possession of a destructive device. He was sentenced earlier this month in Fort Worth by U.S. District Judge Reed O‰??Connor to 46 months in prison.
Authorities said he described his bomb-making techniques on his YouTube channel, Improvised Chaos. In his exchanges with other explosives enthusiasts in the comments section, Nelson said he ordered chemicals and other ingredients through the mail.
Because of his criminal record, Nelson was ineligible for a federal explosives license. He said on his channel that he was self-taught in organic chemistry and enjoyed ‰??blowing crap up‰?? as a hobby. No one was targeted or hurt in the blasts.
---------------------------------------------
UPL SAYS DURBAN BEACHES SAFE TO REOPEN AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL BUT EXPERTS SCEPTICAL -
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/local-news/2631558/upl-says-durban-beaches-safe-to-reopen-after-chemical-spill-but-experts-sceptical/
Tags: South_Africa, industrial, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
Following a devastating chemical spill from a warehouse in the Cornubia area, north of Durban, two and a half months ago amid riots and looting, beaches have been given the all-clear.
However, this update was provided by the owners of the warehouse, United Phosphorous Limited (UPL) ‰?? the same corporation who has to date not made any of its follow-up reports of the state of groundwater pollution public.
In a statement released on Thursday, UPL said a report written by independent specialists had been sent to the eThekwini municipality. The report contains chemical analyses of beaches and sea water conducted over the past few weeks. The last samples were said to have been taken on 8 September.
‰??The report recommends that all beaches are safe to be reopened following the arson attack against the UPL Cornubia warehouse on 12th of July 2021 during the widespread violence and looting that broke out across KwaZulu-Natal.‰??
According to said report, beaches and the ocean ‰??outside a 1km exclusion zone, north, south and east of the mouth pose an extremely low chemical risk to the public regardless of whether the estuary mouth is open or closed‰??.
---------------------------------------------
WEST PHOENIX APARTMENT EVACUATED AFTER CONSTRUCTION CREW DAMAGES GAS PIPELINE
https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/west-phoenix-apartment-evacuated-after-construction-crew-damages-gas-pipeline/75-883eeba9-94fb-4361-9f20-1afdeb7b9fc8
Tags: us_AZ, public, release, response, methane
PHOENIX ‰?? A ruptured gas pipeline spurred the evacuation of an apartment in west Phoenix Wednesday afternoon while multiple hazmat teams worked to control the leak.
Construction crews were digging near 59th Avenue and Thomas Road around 3:30 p.m. when the Phoenix Fire Department said they struck the two-inch underground pipe.
Crews from Phoenix, Glendale and Avondale rushed to the area to contain the leak.
Meanwhile, 35 people from a nearby apartment complex had to be evacuated.
---------------------------------------------
NON-HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL SPILL CLOSES WEST CHESTER ROAD
https://news.yahoo.com/non-hazardous-chemical-spill-closes-184000258.html
Tags: us_OH, transportation, release, response, hydraulic_fluid
Sep. 22‰??West Chester Twp. is detouring traffic around a portion of Union Centre Boulevard this morning after a truck leaked a non-hazardous liquid that is causing slick roads.
A truck was traveling and leaking hydraulic fluid on Union Centre Boulevard between West Chester and Beckett roads, causing slick spots according to township spokeswoman Barb Wilson.
Police are redirecting traffic while the trucking company cleans up the spill.
"There is always a lot of traffic on Union Centre Boulevard, but traffic is being moved through the detour as smoothly as possible," Wilson said. "Access is available to all businesses in the area."
---------------------------------------------
HAWKINS, INC. CHEMICAL COMPANY FIXES ST. PAUL STORAGE TANK ISSUES THAT THREATENED MISSISSIPPI RIVER, STATE AGENCY SAYS
https://news.yahoo.com/hawkins-inc-chemical-company-fixes-200700286.html
Tags: us_MN, industrial, follow-up, environmental, nitric_acid
Sep. 22‰??Hawkins, Inc., a chemical manufacturing company with a facility in St. Paul, has fixed several storage tank issues that threatened the Mississippi River, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency announced Wednesday.
The company was cited for failing to adequately contain potential spills, properly label tanks and consistently inspect tanks, among other things, following an investigation that began August 2020, the agency said. The company was fined $32,540, which it has paid.
Attempts to reach Hawkins, Inc. for comment Wednesday were unsuccessful.
The company came under fire in 2019 when 5,400 gallons of nitric acid spilled in Minneapolis. Fire officials at the time said some of the acid had gotten into storm drains.
The agency said the penalty levied on the St. Paul facility was not related to the Minneapolis spill, but rather came about during a routine facility inspection.
---------------------------------------------
JUDGE DISMISSES SOME OF FORMER CHEMOURS EMPLOYEES' CLAIMS THEY WERE FIRED FOR REPORTING BELLE SITE WORKPLACE, ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/energy_and_environment/judge-dismisses-some-of-former-chemours-employees-claims-they-were-fired-for-reporting-belle-site/article_73767727-1107-5ebd-b8af-06d58ef848d0.html
Tags: us_WV, industrial, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
A judge dismissed two former Belle chemical plant workers‰?? claims of firings for reporting federal violations. But their claims of firings over reporting state violations stand.
That gave Donnie Ennis, of Putnam County, and Paul Griffith, of Boone County, a partial victory in their legal fight against Chemours Co.
They contend they were fired in September 2019 in retaliation for previously reporting the illegal discharge of pollutants into the Kanawha River and unmaintained fire and gas detection systems at Chemours‰?? chemical manufacturing plant in Belle.
‰??We are glad to see this case moving forward and hopefully having our names cleared and to finally get justice,‰?? Griffith said in a statement provided by attorney Laura Davidson, of the Morgantown-based nonprofit Mountain State Justice. ‰??Hopefully our case will help make other employees‰?? jobs safer and make Chemours responsible for keeping the community safe, our environment clean, and keep them from hurting anyone else physically, emotionally or financially.‰??
Ennis and Griffith claimed their reporting of federal hazardous material, worker safety and water violations exempted them from firings as at-will employees. Federal Judge Irene C. Berger ruled those arguments invalid.
The state Supreme Court found in a 1978 case that employers may be liable to an employee for termination damages for firings over a ‰??substantial public policy principle.‰?? Berger found the federal regulations did not constitute ‰??substantial public policy.‰??
But Berger ruled the West Virginia Water Pollution Control Act is a valid basis for claims under the ‰??substantial public policy‰?? exception. So the judge rejected a Chemours motion to dismiss the complaint regarding that allegation.
---------------------------------------------
SEVERAL PEOPLE EXPERIENCE 'AIRWAY ISSUES' AT PALM SPRINGS DMV
https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/local/2021/09/22/officials-respond-possible-mass-casualty-incident-near-farrell-drive-palm-springs/5820921001/
Tags: us_CA, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
Palm Springs Fire Department and other rescue personnel responded to a report of an unidentified chemical smell at the Palm Springs DMV that had sickened 20 people and cleared the building.
The Palm Springs Fire Department initially described the incident as a possible ‰??mass casualty incident‰?? in a tweet at 2:35 p.m. Wednesday, but the incident was downgraded, according to fire department spokesperson Cpt. Nathan Gunkel. He said the term ‰??mass casualty incident‰?? is used whenever an incident involves five or more people.
As of 5:50 p.m., Gunkel said the fire department had run its air monitors inside the DMV building at least three times, but that the cause of the chemical smell could not be traced.
Fire officials received the call at 2:07 p.m. saying about 20 people were feeling sick, with some coughing, sneezing and feeling nauseous at the DMV, located at 950 N. Farrell Dr., according to Gunkel.
---------------------------------------------
POTENTIAL CHEMICAL RELEASE PROMPTS EVACUATION IN RURAL MOWER CTY
https://kdhlradio.com/potential-chemical-release-prompts-evacuation-in-rural-mower-county/
Tags: us_IA, public, fire, response, unknown_chemical
An evacuation order was issued late this afternoon for a rural area long the Minnesota-Iowa border in Mower County.
The Sheriff's Office says deputies went door-to-door within a one-mile radius of a farm located at 70587 110th Street in rural Adams to evacuate residents because of a potential chemical release from a fire in a hog confinement barn. The affected area included portions of Mitchell County in Iowa.
A statement says the person reporting the fire around 3:35 PM indicated the building had received a chemical treatment earlier today, resulting in concerns about the potential for the spread of the compound in the smoke. Firefighters from Adams, Leroy, Rose Creek, and Stacy Iowa responded to the fire. As of 6 PM, fire crews were still at the scene extinguishing the fire, but nearby residents were being allowed to return to their homes.
---------------------------------------------
E&C ANNOUNCES OVERSIGHT HEARING ON CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD
https://energycommerce.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ec-announces-oversight-hearing-on-chemical-safety-board
Tags: public, discovery, environmental
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO) announced today that the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee will hold an oversight hearing on the Chemical Safety Board (CSB) on Wednesday, September 29, at 10:30 a.m. (EDT) in the John D. Dingell Room, 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building. It is entitled, ‰??Protecting Communities from Industrial Accidents: Revitalizing the Chemical Safety Board.‰??
‰??The Chemical Safety Board is tasked with independently investigating the causes of chemical accidents and making recommendations to reduce future ones ‰?? a critical public health and safety mission that impacts us all,‰?? said Pallone and DeGette. ‰??Unfortunately, for some time now, the CSB has faced significant challenges in fulfilling its mission. It is time for us to address the agency‰??s staffing, investigation backlog, and other issues and ensure CSB has the tools it needs to succeed. We look forward to learning more about the status of CSB‰??s work and how Congress can help revitalize this important agency.‰??
This will be a hybrid hearing that includes both in-person and remote member attendance via Cisco Webex video conferencing. Members of the public may view the hearing via live webcast accessible on the Energy and Commerce Committee‰??s website. Please note the webcast will not be available until the hearing begins.
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