U.S. Chemical Safety Board Story Archives - Page 2 of 2

Panel to Discuss West Virginia Explosion, Spill

The federal Chemical Safety Board is coming to Charleston to release findings about a New Cumberland metal recycling plant explosion that killed three workers in December 2010.

At the July 16 meeting, the board will also update the public on its investigation of a January chemical spill. The Freedom Industries tank leak contaminated drinking for 300,000 people for days.

In March, metal recycler AL Solutions in New Cumberland settled to pay a $100,000 civil penalty to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a $97,000 penalty to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The settlement requires Al Solutions to process or dispose of 2.4 million pounds of titanium and zirconium stored at New Cumberland and Weirton facilities by December. Al Solutions also must implement safety procedures for the New Cumberland plant.

Freedom Industries Tanks Deemed 'Out of Compliance' Three Months Before Leak

Tanks at the facility that spilled chemicals into 300,000 West Virginians’ water supply were deemed out of federal compliance three months before the leak.

U.S. Chemical Safety Board Chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso told a congressional panel Monday that Freedom Industries ordered its own review of its tanks last October.

     Environmental consultants found storage units at the Charleston location were “not necessarily” in full compliance with Environmental Protection Agency and industry standards.

     Moure-Eraso also said the tank that spilled was rested on porous gravel and soil. A last resort containment wall was not lined and provided little protection.

     The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing on the spill Monday in Charleston.

Rockefeller's Bills Would Make Polluters Pay

A week after Freedom Industries spilled chemical into the Elk River and tainted the water supply for more than 300,000 West Virginians, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-WV, has introduced a pair of bills to make those responsible pay.

Rockefeller’s bills would not only make those responsible for a chemical spill pay for its cleanup, they’d provide more funding for states and agencies tasked with cleanup.

Rockefeller co-sponsored the bills with Senator Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, who is responding to a 233,000-gallon molasses spill that occurred in Honolulu last year.

The legislation would force companies that spill materials that are dangerous but not deemed hazardous to pay for cleanup costs under the 1980 Superfund act. Currently polluters cannot be held liable under Superfund for cleanup costs if the materials released are not deemed hazardous.

The bills also double the Superfund cap on clean-ups associated with harmful spills from $2 million to $4 million.

The two bills can be viewed here and here.

Chemical Safety Board to Investigate Freedom Industries Spill

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board says it will investigate a chemical spill in the Elk River that has contaminated the public water supply in nine counties.…

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board says it will investigate a chemical spill in the Elk River that has contaminated the public water supply in nine counties.

     Board chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso said Saturday that the board wants to find out how a leak of such magnitude occurred, and how to prevent similar incidents in the future.

     U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller says he’s pleased with the board’s quick response to his request for an investigation.

     Thursday’s spill from a Freedom Industries facility in Charleston also is being investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Occupational and Safety Administration.

     West Virginia American Water has told 300,000 people in the affected counties to not drink their tap water or use it for bathing, cooking and washing clothes.