From: DCHAS Membership Chair <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (12 articles)
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2018 07:37:05 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: 73500C03-0982-409E-ADB8-63CD20E57A54**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org


Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, September 3, 2018 at 7:36:54 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 (12 articles)

LEVEL I HAZMAT DECLARED ON I-264 EASTBOUND DUE TO SEMI ON FIRE
Tags: us_KY, transportation, fire, response, diesel

HAZMAT CREW FINISHES DECONTAMINATION AFTER FENTANYL EXPOSURE AT SCOTT COUNTY JAIL
Tags: us_MO, public, release, injury, dust, clandestine_lab

CRASH, CHEMICAL SPILL TEMPORARILY CLOSES I-680 THURSDAY
Tags: us_CA, transportation, release, response, pool_chemicals

CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST HUSKY ENERGY
Tags: us_WI, industrial, follow-up, environmental, hydrofluoric_acid

OVER-PRESSURIZED CHEMICAL CONTAINER
Tags: us_WI, public, explosion, response, unknown_chemical

INDUSTRY LOOKS FOR HURRICANE LESSONS AS CLIMATE CHANGES
Tags: us_TX, transportation, follow-up, environmental

15 TREATED AFTER PEPPER SPRAY RELEASED ON KAHULUI-BOUND FLIGHT
Tags: us_HI, transportation, release, injury, illegal, pepper_spray

PEPSI BOTTLING COMPANY IN NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA EVACUATED AFTER AMMONIA LEAK
Tags: us_PA, industrial, release, response, ammonia

UPDATE: TRUCK WITH POOL CHEMICALS CRASHES, CAUSING HAZMAT RESPONSE
Tags: us_CA, transportation, release, response, pool_chemicals

WATER RECLAMATION BUILDING'S ROOF COLLAPSES IN CHICAGO AFTER EXPLOSION; 10 INJURED
Tags: us_IL, industrial, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

MERCURY LEAKS INSIDE U.S. POSTAL VEHICLE IN JAMES CITY CO. NEIGHBORHOOD
Tags: us_VA, transportation, release, injury, mercury

LAWSUIT ALLEGES CHEMICAL COMPANIES SHOULD PREPARE FOR UNPRECEDENTED STORMS
Tags: us_TX, industrial, follow-up, environmental


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LEVEL I HAZMAT DECLARED ON I-264 EASTBOUND DUE TO SEMI ON FIRE
http://www.wave3.com/2018/09/02/all-eastbound-lanes-i-blocked-due-vehicle-fire/
Tags: us_KY, transportation, fire, response, diesel

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - All eastbound lanes of I-264 were blocked for hours on Sunday due to a commercial vehicle fire and crash, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said on Sunday afternoon.
The incident occurred at approximately 4:28 p.m., according to Trimarc.
A level I hazmat was declared due to bourbon and diesel spilling onto the roadway, Metrosafe said.

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HAZMAT CREW FINISHES DECONTAMINATION AFTER FENTANYL EXPOSURE AT SCOTT COUNTY JAIL
http://www.kfvs12.com/2018/09/02/unknown-substance-sends-scott-county-jailers-hospital/
Tags: us_MO, public, release, injury, dust, clandestine_lab

BENTON, MO (KFVS) - A hazmat situation at the Scott County, Missouri Jail on Sunday, September 2 led to three jailers going to the hospital.
According to the Scott County Sheriff‰??s Office, at 8:30 p.m. crews cleared the scene at the Scott County Jail.
During the investigation, a white powdery substance found tested positive for Fentanyl. According to the sheriff‰??s office, the substance was contained to a small, isolated area in the jail.
No inmates were affected by the incident.

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CRASH, CHEMICAL SPILL TEMPORARILY CLOSES I-680 THURSDAY
https://martinezgazette.com/crash-chemical-spill-temporarily-closes-i-680-thursday/
Tags: us_CA, transportation, release, response, pool_chemicals

MARTINEZ, Calif. ‰?? A multi-vehicle collision involving a company truck loaded with pool chemicals forced the closure of south Interstate-680 Thursday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol reports.

Once the chemicals, described as chlorine and muriatic acid spilled onto the highway, the accident triggered a hazardous materials cleanup response from Contra Costa County‰??s fire protection district and hazmat crews, the agency said.

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CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST HUSKY ENERGY
http://bemidjipioneer.com/business/energy-and-mining/4493998-class-action-complaint-filed-against-husky-energy
Tags: us_WI, industrial, follow-up, environmental, hydrofluoric_acid

SUPERIOR, Wis. ‰?? A class action complaint was filed against Husky Energy and Superior Refining Company in response to the April 26 explosion and fire at their Superior refinery, which prompted the evacuation of most of Superior.

In a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin on Aug. 20, Jasen Bruzek, Hope Koplin and Neil Miller argue Husky displayed negligence, nuisance, trespass on land and strict liability ‰?? extrahazardous and/or ultrahazardous activity before, during and after the fire and evacuation.

According to the complaint, "Defendants failed to exercise due care in the maintenance and monitoring of the Husky Superior Refinery so as to prevent fires, explosions, and the uncontrolled release of hazardous substance, odors, and wastes into the environment."

The complaint cites the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board's Aug. 2 factual update that found a worn-out valve may allow air to mix with hydrocarbons within the fluid catalytic cracking unit, or FCC, then come in contact with iron sulfide deposits, which can spontaneously ignite if in contact with air. Since the evacuation zone was based on the worst-case scenario ‰?? the release of hydrogen fluoride, a highly dangerous chemical used in the refining process ‰?? the complaint cites the Center for Public Integrity in claiming that up to 180,000 people could have been killed or injured if the hydrogen fluoride was released.

No hydrogen fluoride was released.

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OVER-PRESSURIZED CHEMICAL CONTAINER
https://www.wisn.com/article/over-pressurized-chemical-container-draws-hazmat-response/22892844
Tags: us_WI, public, explosion, response, unknown_chemical

The Milwaukee Fire Department's hazmat team was called to investigate a possible explosion Saturday morning in the Menomonee River Valley neighborhood after witnesses heard a big boom.

When firefighters arrived at Materion Advanced Chemicals at 13th Street and St. Paul Avenue, they didn't find any evidence of leaking or smoke.

Fire officials said a sealed container with an undisclosed chemical over pressurized and caused the blast.

While it sounded like an explosion, Deputy Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski explained why it actually wasn't one.

"People, when they think explosion, think fireball, smoke, death and mayhem. This mimicked the explosion in that there was outward force, but there was no fire. There was no burning," Lipski said.

Fire officials said at least 15 employees were inside the building when this happened, but none of them were injured.

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INDUSTRY LOOKS FOR HURRICANE LESSONS AS CLIMATE CHANGES
http://netnebraska.org/node/1143634
Tags: us_TX, transportation, follow-up, environmental

The Houston Ship Channel has the rhythm of an ant colony. Barges and oil tankers lumber through the silty water, tangles of exposed pipe rise hundreds of feet above a sea of white tanks. Residents of the coastal plain between Houston and Galveston will tell you the plain is flatter than a regulation pool table. But if you can get up high enough you'll see trains and ships and trucks moving ceaselessly from dock to dock, terminal to terminal.

The vehicles carry the chemicals and oil for your car, your clothes, your hair gel and your eyeliner, your kid's soccer ball and your mother's hospital IV. And the entire system is sitting in the path of some future hurricane.

Last August, Hurricane Harvey dumped more than 60 inches of rain on this region and, in the year since, a lot of companies have been reassessing how they prepare for, and respond to, storms.

One big issue is how to keep gas and chemicals safely contained during big floods. Approximately 8 million pounds of extra air pollution are estimated to have been released as a result of Harvey, according to an analysis of public records that the companies themselves reported.

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15 TREATED AFTER PEPPER SPRAY RELEASED ON KAHULUI-BOUND FLIGHT
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/39004570/hawaiian-airlines-investigating-after-chemical-release-on-oakland-kahului-flight
Tags: us_HI, transportation, release, injury, illegal, pepper_spray

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -
An apparent accidental release of pepper spray mid-way through a flight from Oakland to Kahului on Friday sent a number of passengers into coughing fits and forced those in the front section of the cabin to leave their seats for more than half an hour, Hawaiian Airlines and passengers said.

Hawaiian Airlines said 12 passengers and three flight attendants were treated for respiratory issues after the plane landed at Kahului Airport at 10:37 a.m. They have all been released.

Maui police and the TSA are investigating the incident, and the passenger who brought the pepper spray on board could face civil penalties of up to $13,000. Pepper spray is not allowed to be carried on planes, though it is permitted in checked baggage.

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PEPSI BOTTLING COMPANY IN NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA EVACUATED AFTER AMMONIA LEAK
https://6abc.com/pepsi-bottling-company-in-ne-philly-evacuated-after-ammonia-leak/4099484/
Tags: us_PA, industrial, release, response, ammonia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The Pepsi Bottling Group building in Northeast Philadelphia was evacuated early Thursday morning following an ammonia leak.

The Philadelphia Fire Department and hazmat crews responded to the scene at Roosevelt Boulevard and Comly Street.

They were able to secure the leak by 1:30 this morning.

There were no injuries were reported.

---------------------------------------------

UPDATE: TRUCK WITH POOL CHEMICALS CRASHES, CAUSING HAZMAT RESPONSE
https://www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea/article/Update-Truck-With-Pool-Chemicals-Crashes-13194116.php
Tags: us_CA, transportation, release, response, pool_chemicals

A truck carrying pool chemicals overturned on southbound Interstate Highway 680 in unincorporated Pacheco this morning, causing a hazardous materials response when the chemicals spilled onto the roadway, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash was reported at 8:06 a.m. on southbound Highway 680 at the junction with state Highway 4.

The truck driver was going faster than the slowing traffic ahead of him and swerved, struck two vehicles and then overturned and hit other vehicles, Six vehicles in all were involved in the crash, CHP Officer Brandon Correia said.

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WATER RECLAMATION BUILDING'S ROOF COLLAPSES IN CHICAGO AFTER EXPLOSION; 10 INJURED
https://abc7chicago.com/water-reclamation-buildings-roof-collapses-in-chicago-after-explosion;-at-least-8-injured/4099483/
Tags: us_IL, industrial, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Ten people were injured after the roof of a water reclamation district facility collapsed following an explosion on Chicago's Far South Side in the Riverdale neighborhood Thursday morning.

The explosion occurred at a sludge concentration building at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant at 430 East 130th Street at around 11 a.m., a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District said.

The explosion caused the roof to collapse, caving in on itself.

"We're talking beams that run across, hundreds of thousands of pounds," said CFD Commissioner Jose Santiago.

Firefighters rushed to the plant, bringing in their special operations team for the rescue effort of the 10 workers who were inside the building during the explosion.

The Chicago Fire Department said all 10 people were injured and two of them had to be removed from the rubble. Fire officials said one person was pulled out after about 20 minutes.

---------------------------------------------

MERCURY LEAKS INSIDE U.S. POSTAL VEHICLE IN JAMES CITY CO. NEIGHBORHOOD
https://wtkr.com/2018/08/30/james-city-co-crews-working-hazmat-situation-after-substance-leaks-in-u-s-postal-vehicle/
Tags: us_VA, transportation, release, injury, mercury

JAMES CITY CO., Va. - James City County emergency personnel responded to a hazmat situation in the 4600 block of Noland Boulevard in Lightfoot Thursday afternoon.

A call reporting an unknown substance that had apparently leaked from a container came in at 2:35 p.m.

Authorities say the substance spilled inside a U.S. Postal Service vehicle. The postal service employee received medical evaluation and required only minimal care.

There is no indication of any immediate concern at this time, according to emergency personnel.

A firefighter was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital for heat-related problems. He is said to be in stable condition.

The James City County Fire and Police Departments, along with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the York County Department of Fire and Life Safety also responded to the scene. The Department of Fire and Life Safety assisted in identifying the substance.

The Liberty Crossings neighborhood was blocked off for hours before residents were allowed back into their homes.

In a statement, a spokeswoman with the U.S. Postal Service said the spilled substance was identified as mercury and that the mail that was inside the vehicle will not be delivered until it has been deemed safe to do so:

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LAWSUIT ALLEGES CHEMICAL COMPANIES SHOULD PREPARE FOR UNPRECEDENTED STORMS
https://www.npr.org/2018/08/30/638936124/lawsuit-alleges-chemical-companies-should-prepare-for-unprecedented-storms
Tags: us_TX, industrial, follow-up, environmental

Criminal charges against a chemical company that flooded during Hurricane Harvey are raising two big questions: When is pollution an accident? And when is it a crime?

During Hurricane Harvey last year, a chemical plant near Houston caught fire and burned for days. Now the company that owns the plant and two of its employees are facing criminal charges. As NPR's Rebecca Hersher reports, this case is raising big questions about who should be held responsible in the era of climate change.

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