From: Ralph Stuart <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (8 articles)
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2021 06:21:19 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID: D75CC62E-B0E7-48E7-9E27-3109E306F223**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org

Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at 6:21:04 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 (8 articles)

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

BAY AREA DISTRICT ATTORNEYS SETTLE WITH ULTA BEAUTY OVER IMPROPER DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ‰?? CBS SAN FRANCISCO
Tags: us_CA, public, discovery, environmental, corrosives, flammables, waste

CHEMICAL INCIDENT AT WESTCHESTER YMCA SENDS 13 TO HOSPITAL
Tags: us_NY, public, release, injury, chlorine, hydrochloric_acid

THOUSANDS RAISED FOR MAN INJURED IN SOUTHSIDE APARTMENT EXPLOSION
Tags: us_TX, public, follow-up, injury, unknown_chemical

1 HURT IN MERCED HOUSE EXPLOSION
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, explosion, injury, drugs, clandestine_lab

CRASH ON I-95 NEAR JACKSONVILLE AIRPORT SLOWS TRAFFIC
Tags: us_FL, transportation, release, response, diesel

EMPLOYEE INJURED WHILE TRYING TO EXTINGUISH FIRE AT CHEMICAL FACTORY IN GURNEE
Tags: us_IL, industrial, fire, injury, unknown_chemical


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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.

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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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BAY AREA DISTRICT ATTORNEYS SETTLE WITH ULTA BEAUTY OVER IMPROPER DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ‰?? CBS SAN FRANCISCO
https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/09/20/ulta-beauty-impoper-disposal-settlement-bay-area-district-attorneys/
Tags: us_CA, public, discovery, environmental, corrosives, flammables, waste

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF/KPIX) ‰?? Ten district attorneys in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas announced Monday that they have reached a settlement with the cosmetics company Ulta Beauty for improperly storing, handling and disposing hazardous materials.

District attorneys from Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Sonoma counties were part of a lawsuit against Ulta Beauty Inc. that included a total of 34 district attorneys and city attorneys across the state.

According to the complaint filed by the district and city attorneys, Ulta Beauty stores across the state frequently handled flammable, reactive, toxic and corrosive materials like cosmetics, fragrances, nail polish and electronics and allegedly improperly disposed of them in standard trash containers and dumpsters rather than transporting them to a designated, legal hazardous waste facility.

The complaint also alleges that Ulta Beauty stores failed to properly document and store hazardous waste materials or train employees to handle and dispose of them.

‰??These are serious violations of hazardous materials,‰?? said Scott Alonso with Contra Costa County District Attorneys Office.

As part of the settlement, Ulta will be required to pay $752,000 in fines and implement a compliance program to ensure they properly dispose of hazardous materials in the future.

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CHEMICAL INCIDENT AT WESTCHESTER YMCA SENDS 13 TO HOSPITAL
https://power1051.iheart.com/content/2021-09-20-chemical-incident-at-westchester-ymca-sends-13-to-hospital/
Tags: us_NY, public, release, injury, chlorine, hydrochloric_acid

At least 13 people were taken to the hospital early Monday after a chemical incident at a Westchester County YMCA, officials said.

The victims reportedly suffered respiratory symptoms and "skin exposure injuries" after being exposed to a vapor cloud caused by a hazardous mixture of chemicals at the New Rochelle YMCA on Weyman Avenue at around 7:15 a.m.

Details on the severity of the injuries wasn't immediately clear, but officials indicated that no one was seriously hurt. The ages of the victims was not specified.

According to fire officials, hydrochloric acid and chlorine "inadvertently" got mixed in the same container, causing a chemical reaction that made several gym patrons and employees ill with fumes.

The incident was deemed "accidental and not criminal in nature." First responders in hazmat suit helped remove people from the building.

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THOUSANDS RAISED FOR MAN INJURED IN SOUTHSIDE APARTMENT EXPLOSION
https://www.caller.com/story/news/local/2021/09/20/thousands-raised-man-injured-southside-apartment-explosion/5784771001/
Tags: us_TX, public, follow-up, injury, unknown_chemical

Thousands of dollars have been raised for a man who was injured in an explosion at a Southside apartment complex last week.

Corpus Christi fire and police departments responded to the scene of an explosion at the Chandler's Mill Apartments near Airline and Holly around 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

Responders found severe damage to the second story of the building and an injured man waiting outside. According to fire chief Robert Rocha, two people appeared to have been doing maintenance inside the unit, though the cause of the explosion is under investigation.

The fundraiser says Smith received first- to third-degree burns on over 30% of his body and was transported to San Antonio for treatment.

Smith's wife posted an update on Sept. 16, adding that the incident was a chemical explosion and his respirator mask saved his life.

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1 HURT IN MERCED HOUSE EXPLOSION
https://californianewstimes.com/1-hurt-in-merced-house-explosion/530498/
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, explosion, injury, drugs, clandestine_lab

One person hurts in the explosion of Merced‰??s house

Windows in some nearby homes were damaged by the explosion, and some homes were evacuated.

A person was hospitalized with a major burn on Monday after an explosion at a drug laboratory that may be operating at Merced‰??s home, police said. Lieutenant Emily Foster of Merced police said residents heard a blast at 8:18 am at a house in Korma‰??s 3900 blocks near the Derby Court. Firefighters and police found victims near the house. The victim was taken to a hospital in Fresno via a LifeFlight helicopter. Windows in some nearby homes were damaged by the explosion, and some homes were evacuated.

A person was hospitalized with a major burn on Monday after an explosion at a drug laboratory that may be operating at Merced‰??s home, police said.

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CRASH ON I-95 NEAR JACKSONVILLE AIRPORT SLOWS TRAFFIC
https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2021/09/19/crash-on-i-95-near-jacksonville-airport-slows-traffic/
Tags: us_FL, transportation, release, response, diesel

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. ‰?? A crash involving a tractor-trailer on Interstate 95 near Jacksonville International Airport slowed traffic on a rainy Sunday morning.
The crash, which happened around 10 a.m. on I-95 south, involved a jackknifed truck near Airport Road.
According to Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, there was a diesel fuel leak that required the help of the hazmat team.
Two lanes were blocked after the crash and JFRD said to expect delays in both directions.
It‰??s unclear if there were any injuries.

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EMPLOYEE INJURED WHILE TRYING TO EXTINGUISH FIRE AT CHEMICAL FACTORY IN GURNEE
https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2021/09/19/employee-injured-while-trying-to-extinguish-fire-at-chemical-factory-in-gurnee/
Tags: us_IL, industrial, fire, injury, unknown_chemical

A boiler fire at a chemical factory in Gurnee Saturday afternoon left one employee injured and prompted the response of nearly a dozen fire departments, officials said.

The Gurnee Fire Department responded at 1:31 p.m. Saturday to reports of a structure fire at Vantage, 3938 Porett Drive in Gurnee.

Gurnee Fire Department Battalion Chief David Douglass told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that there was a fire in the exhaust stacks of an oil boiler.

Firefighters arrived and found light smoke coming from the factory.

The fire was contained to the exhaust stacks and deck, Douglass said.

A worker who was attempting to extinguish the fire was treated by paramedics for exhaustion and released from the scene, Douglass said.

The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to bring additional firefighters to the scene and to Gurnee‰??s two fire stations to cover any calls in the city.

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