The Final Moments of Freedom Industries' Tank 396

The storage tank that was the source of a chemical spill that contaminated the drinking water supply for 300,000 West Virginians on January 9 has been demolished. Tank 396, which housed the coal-scrubbing compound MCHM, was demolished Tuesday afternoon. Contractors began demolition of the tank farm on July 15.

Volunteer video producer Mike Youngren sent us this video.

https://vimeo.com/102090584

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection approved a stormwater management plan for the demolition process on Monday, July 14, just one day before the demolition of the site began. As we previously reported, that plan included:

• Freedom Industries contractors will place liners over the footprint of the tanks to prevent stormwater from unintentionally entering the ground.
• Contractors will also halt the demolition process if more than two inches of rain falls within a six-hour period.
• Dismantled materials will be stored within the containment wall at the site before being loaded and hauled away in roll off containers or on a truck.