From: CHAS membership <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (11 articles)
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2021 06:52:36 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, April 12, 2021 at 6:52:13 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)

DIESEL SPILL INTO HURON RIVER PROMPTS HAZMAT RESPONSE THURSDAY
Tags: us_MI, transportation, release, response, diesel

HAZMAT TEAM RESPONDS AFTER LOCAL ANIMAL HOSPITAL WAS EVACUATED
Tags: us_FL, public, release, response, unknown_chemical

ALASKA FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST CHEMICAL COMPOUND MANUFACTURERS
Tags: us_AK, public, discovery, environmental, toxics

UPDATE: HAMILTON CO. HAZMAT CREWS ASSIST WITH CHEMICAL CLEANUP O
Tags: us_TN, transportation, release, response, adhesives

OVERTURNED TRUCK LEAKING CHEMICALS CLOSES PORTION OF BIRMINGHAM INTERSTATE
Tags: us_AL, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical

NO RISK TO PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENT AFTER CHEMICAL EXPOSURE IN SPRINGWATER
Tags: Canada, industrial, release, response, dust

OFFICIALS STILL WORKING TO IDENTIFY CHEMICALS THAT BURNED IN LARGE CHANNELVIEW FIRE
Tags: us_TX, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical

TWO INJURED IN SUNDAR FACTORY FIRE
Tags: Pakistan, industrial, fire, injury, flammables

HUGE STOCKPILE OF OBSOLETE CHEMICALS COULD WIPE OUT ADDIS
Tags: Ethiopia, public, discovery, environmental

ADHESIVES MAKER PAYS $345K IN EPA SETTLEMENT
Tags: us_MA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, plastics

U.S. CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD UPDATES ON YENKIN-MAJESTIC PAINT EXPLOSION
Tags: us_OH, industrial, follow-up, death, paints


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DIESEL SPILL INTO HURON RIVER PROMPTS HAZMAT RESPONSE THURSDAY
https://www.clickondetroit.com/all-about-ann-arbor/2021/04/10/diesel-spill-into-huron-river-prompts-hazmat-response-thursday/#//
Tags: us_MI, transportation, release, response, diesel

ANN ARBOR, Mich. ‰?? On Thursday, 25 gallons of diesel spilled into the Huron River when a tank ruptured on a jackknifed semitractor-trailer on the eastbound M-14 bridge.
The Ann Arbor Fire Department worked with the Washtenaw County hazardous materials team to respond to the incident, which occurred after 4 p.m., the fire department said.
Ann Arbor Fire Engine 1-5 attempted to clean up some of the spilled diesel by stringing absorbent boom across the river with a water rescue boat, according to a Facebook post.

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HAZMAT TEAM RESPONDS AFTER LOCAL ANIMAL HOSPITAL WAS EVACUATED
https://www.fox4now.com/news/local-news/hazmat-team-responds-after-local-animal-hospital-was-evacuated
Tags: us_FL, public, release, response, unknown_chemical

FORT MYERS, Fla -- The South Trail Fire Protection & Rescue Service District said it responded to BluePearl Pet Hospital in Fort Myers Saturday afternoon for a hazardous material investigation.

The agency said the building at 9500 Marketplace Road was self evacuated by employees. Fire Chief Gene Rogers said a piece of equipment malfunctioned.

Fire crews, along with Lee County EMS, were on scene initially to monitor air quality and secure the area. "A hazmat team then responded with specific tools to measure air quality and hazards," said South Trail Fire Protection & Rescue Service District Director of Public Relations Amy Bollen.

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ALASKA FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST CHEMICAL COMPOUND MANUFACTURERS
https://www.jurist.org/news/2021/04/alaska-files-lawsuit-against-chemical-compound-manufacturers/
Tags: us_AK, public, discovery, environmental, toxics

The State of Alaska sued over thirty chemical compound manufacturers Wednesday after it was discovered that the state‰??s groundwater was being contaminated by toxic chemicals.

The 38-page complaint alleges that the defendant companies knowingly produced highly toxic chemicals known as PFAS (which include PFOS and PFOA) and released the compounds into the environment through their products. These chemicals are manmade substances which spread quickly throughout ecosystems, are toxic at very low levels, and can take a long period of time to break down. Communities located near military bases and industrial sites bear significantly higher environmental and health risks as a result of these chemicals because the toxic substances are widely used in industrial fire extinguishers commonly found near to airports and other industrial sites.

‰??[Defendants bear] responsibility for the release of vast amounts of PFAS into Alaska‰??s environment, contaminating the State‰??s water resources, soils, sediments, biota and wildlife, threatening health, safety, and well-being of the State‰??s residents,‰?? the complaint asserts.

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UPDATE: HAMILTON CO. HAZMAT CREWS ASSIST WITH CHEMICAL CLEANUP O
https://www.wrcbtv.com/story/43641314/update-hamilton-co-hazmat-crews-assist-with-chemical-cleanup-on-i75-south
Tags: us_TN, transportation, release, response, adhesives

UPDATE: Hamilton County hazmat crews worked to clean a chemical spill on Interstate 75 South Saturday afternoon.

According to the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management, the Tri-Community VFD requested the Hamilton County hazmat team for assistance with a chemical cleanup at 1 p.m.

According to hazmat officials, a box truck carrying four totes of dibutyl phthalate ‰?? a chemical used as an adhesive product for PVC pipes ‰?? hit the center guard rail, puncturing one of the totes.

The tote leaked about 150 to 175 gallons of the chemical.

Tri-Community VFD personnel built a temporary dike to contain the spill until hazmat officials arrived at the scene.

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OVERTURNED TRUCK LEAKING CHEMICALS CLOSES PORTION OF BIRMINGHAM INTERSTATE
https://abc3340.com/news/local/overturned-truck-leaking-chemicals-closes-portion-of-birmingham-interstate
Tags: us_AL, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBMA) ‰?? Birmingham Fire and Rescue and hazmat crews responded to an overturned 18 wheeler truck on Interstate 20 West on Saturday afternoon.

Authorities said several gallons of a chemical base leaked from the truck.

Shortly after 5:00 p.m., the fire department confirmed that the chemical is contained, but noted the portion of the interstate will continue to be closed for several hours.

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NO RISK TO PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENT AFTER CHEMICAL EXPOSURE IN SPRINGWATER
https://barrie.ctvnews.ca/no-risk-to-public-environment-after-chemical-exposure-in-springwater-1.5382822
Tags: Canada, industrial, release, response, dust

BARRIE, ONT. -- Officials say there is no danger to the public or the environment after a chemical exposure in Springwater Saturday afternoon.

Fire officials were called to Terrapure Environmental Solutions on Snow Valley Road shortly after 3 p.m., following calls of smoke coming out of one of the buildings towards the back of the property.

With the help of Barrie Fire's hazmat team, officials determined the smoke was caused by aluminum trichloride, a powder substance used for a variety of industrial purposes, mixing with water.

All Terrapure staff were evacuated, and the surrounding area, including a walking trail, was cleared.

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OFFICIALS STILL WORKING TO IDENTIFY CHEMICALS THAT BURNED IN LARGE CHANNELVIEW FIRE
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2021/04/07/firefighters-responding-to-large-industrial-fire-in-channelview/
Tags: us_TX, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical

Channelview ‰?? Harris County officials and firefighters are investigating the large industrial fire that occurred in the 1000 block of Lakeside Drive in the Channelview area Wednesday afternoon.
The two-alarm fire broke out around 4 p.m. Residents in the area reported hearing loud noises and then seeing a huge plume of black smoke fill the air.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said the fire was extinguished around 7 p.m. A shelter-in-place order that was issued for residents in Lakeside Park Estates and Lakeview Homes has now been lifted, Hidalgo said.
Rachel Moreno with the Harris County Fire Marshall‰??s office said the building is owned by K-Solv, a chemical distribution company.
Mikie Sopczak, the director of environmental health, safety, and security for K-Solv said the fire started during a drum transfer operation, which is the transfer of one product into a smaller container. Sopczak said during the transfer there was an ignition source that caused an intense fire. Sopczak added that several hotspots were put out overnight after the fire was extinguished.

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TWO INJURED IN SUNDAR FACTORY FIRE
https://www.dawn.com/news/1617339/two-injured-in-sundar-factory-fire
Tags: Pakistan, industrial, fire, injury, flammables

LAHORE: A fire erupted in a factory in the Sundar Industrial Estate and gutted valuables worth millions on Friday.

A Rescue 1122 spokesman said the fire destroyed parts of the chemical factory and left two employees injured.

The fire broke out in the Pure-Chem Factory in the morning which also engulfed other factories. Rescue 1122, emergency fire vehicles, and fire tenders took part in the firefighting operation and put out the blaze after eight hours of hectic effort.

The two-acre factory housed highly inflammable chemicals used for the printing and paint industry.

Factory officials told the media that nine employees had saved their lives by climbing over the walls of the factory.

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HUGE STOCKPILE OF OBSOLETE CHEMICALS COULD WIPE OUT ADDIS
https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/article/huge-stockpile-obsolete-chemicals-could-wipe-out-addis
Tags: Ethiopia, public, discovery, environmental

A huge stockpile of outdated explosive chemicals in Addis Ababa has the capacity of annihilating the capital, the Public Procurement and Property Administration Agency announced.

Unless action is taken to dispose of the chemical, it has the potential to cause an enormous explosion that can wipe out cities and towns within 250 kilometer radius from Addis Ababa, according to Haji Ibsa, Director of the Agency.

Inflammable chemicals including pesticides, acidic chemicals, DDT, electronic waste and other substances have been stored in various warehouses after being imported by the government and private companies. Some of the chemicals stored were confiscated after the products were brought in by illegal suppliers.

Speaking to journalists, Haji stated than an ongoing inquiry is in progress with experts from Addis Ababa University, in partnership with the Institute of Biotechnology, to identify the type of chemicals the agency discovered in Lafto Sub-city.

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

ADHESIVES MAKER PAYS $345K IN EPA SETTLEMENT
https://www.powderbulksolids.com/chemical/adhesives-maker-pays-345k-epa-settlement
Tags: us_MA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, plastics

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced this week that adhesives manufacturer ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc. (ITW) corrected several alleged violations of chemical safety regulations and will pay a fine of $345,000 to settle claims that chemical accident prevention laws were violated at the firm‰??s Rockland, MA facility.

ITW, a subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works Inc., is alleged to have failed to comply with chemical accident prevention requirements under the federal Clean Air Act, the agency said in a release Thursday. The company stores highly flammable and toxic chemical substances in large outdoor storage tanks, and then transports the chemicals through piping into the facility‰??s buildings to manufacture adhesives and sealants. EPA said many of the violations stemmed from failing to properly inspect and maintain the outdoor chemical storage tanks and piping.

‰??EPA enforcement action, and ITW‰??s subsequent actions in response to it, have resulted in a safer facility and helped protect human health and the environment,‰?? EPA New England Acting Regional Administrator Deborah Szaro said in a statement. ‰??This settlement demonstrates that the Clean Air Act‰??s chemical accident prevention requirements are in place for a reason and shows EPA‰??s dedication to working with facilities to ensure chemical safety compliance.‰??

During an EPA inspection of the Rockland site, investigators found that the outdoor tanks and piping were not properly inspected or maintained, which resulted in ‰??many potential‰?? violations of the Clean Air Act General Duty Clause (GDC) and Risk Management Plant (RMP) regulations, according to the agency.

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U.S. CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD UPDATES ON YENKIN-MAJESTIC PAINT EXPLOSION
https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/04/09/u-s-chemical-safety-board-releases-update-yenkin-majestic-paint-explosion/7167493002/
Tags: us_OH, industrial, follow-up, death, paints

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board provided its first update in its investigation of an explosion that occurred at a Columbus paint factory early Thursday morning.

The incident caused a building in the Yenkin-Majestic Paint factory's OPC Polymer unit to collapse and resulted in more than $1 million in property damage, according to Chemical Safety Board's Friday evening update.

More:Paint company where explosion and fire killed one, injured 8 has history of safety violations

The casualties of the explosion include one fatality, five hospitalizations and four non-serious injuries, according the the CSB. (A fire official earlier in the week said there was one fatality and eight injuries.) The Near East Side company has 180 employees, 21 of which were working in the 1920 Leonard Ave. facility at the time of the explosion.

The body of Wendell Light, 44, of Heath, was found around 9:15 a.m. and was partially covered in rubble inside the collapsed building, Columbus Fire Battalion Chief Steve Martin said earlier this week. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The OPC Polymer Unit ‰?? which is separate from the company's paint and industrial coatings divisions ‰?? was operating normally at the time of the incident, according to the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) report.

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