CHESAPEAKE
A federal agency has concluded that the collapse of a liquid fertilizer tank along the Elizabeth River in November was the perfect example why the inspection and maintenance of such tanks should be regulated by the state.
"There were no laws or regulations governing these tanks," said Robert Hall, a lead investigator for the U.S. Chemical Safety Board. The group held a news conference Wednesday to release its final report on the Nov. 12 tank collapse at Allied Terminals.
The safety board found that defective welding on Allied Terminals' Tank 201 was the cause of the collapse, which resulted in the spill of more than 2 million gallons of liquid fertilizer. Two contractors were injured while performing welding work on the tank.
The federal agency also faulted Allied Terminals for failing to ensure that the welds on Tank 201 met industry quality standards, not performing post-welding inspections on the tank, and directing contractors to seal leaking rivets while the tank was being filled to its maximum level for the first time.
"This is certainly one of the biggest, most abrupt spills we've ever seen," said William B. Wark, a board member for the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, which investigates industrial chemical accidents. "We're just fortunate it wasn't worse."
Bruce Law, executive vice president of Allied Terminals, said it would be "premature and inappropriate" to comment after receiving the report Wednesday.
City officials said they intend to pursue state laws that will authorize Chesapeake to regulate large fertilizer storage tanks along the Elizabeth River's Southern Branch. The Chemical Safety Board said that 17 states have regulatory programs that apply to the storage of liquid fertilizer in above-ground tanks.
"I think it's probably something that needs to be done" for Virginia, said Del. John Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake, who added that inspection fees could pay any program costs. "We have to look at the seriousness of what happened there. We have to look at the safety of the people around the tanks."
That is the city's biggest concern, officials say.
Chesapeake leaders said Wednesday that they have requested $2.5 million in federal funds to help redevelop South Hill, a community of about 40 homes that is bordered on two sides by the Allied Terminals facility.
The city also announced a point person, Theo McClammy, for a plan to relocate South Hill residents, which has made little progress in part because the first official assigned to jump-start the plan quit last year.
Several residents who attended Wednesday's news conference were upset about what they called the city's lack of progress.
"Why is the community still in the condition that it's in after the spill?" said longtime South Hill resident Edora Mitchell, who stood up to address a small crowd of officials at the Dr. Clarence V. Cuffee Community Center.
Mitchell said the fertilizer turned her neighbor's lawn "just as brown as that door." Department of Environmental Quality officials say that at least 4 or 5 South Hill yards had been turned completely brown by the fertilizer. Mitchell said she's also seen the liquid in ditches near her home.
Federal and state officials say the cleanup is still ongoing.
"There's a lot of product out there that's soaked into the ground, and could possibly come out when it rains," said Chief William K. Hibner Jr., the city's fire marshal.
Allied is paying the cleanup bill, which is already in the millions of dollars, say Allied executives and state officials.
Officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency say they have done water monitoring at two private wells, and those tests showed no impact to drinking water. Allied also has done air monitoring at one residential property, said EPA spokesman Roy Seneca. While they were originally concerned about people being exposed to ammonia vapors, EPA officials say that is not a concern anymore.
About 200,000 gallons of liquid fertilizer was not recovered. Some of it may have flowed into the Elizabeth River.
State environmental officials discovered high amounts of nitrate and ammonia in parts of the Elizabeth River after the collapse. But those amounts had returned to pre-spill levels by March, according to DEQ tests.
The DEQ has begun a state enforcement action against Allied Terminals under a code that prohibits unauthorized waste discharges or other alterations of state waters.
Federal investigators also found numerous welding defects in three other liquid fertilizer tanks at the Allied Terminals facility off Rosemont Avenue. The city of Chesapeake later ordered Allied to drain one of those tanks.
The collapse could have lasting effects on other bulk storage facilities along the Chesapeake riverfront.
After the spill, the city formed a task force that has inspected eight tank facilities in Chesapeake. The task force found about 50 violations of state code.
Mike Saewitz, (757) 222-5207, mike.saewitz@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
So, Bob
You think the government should not be in the business of protecting the environment? If left to their own devices, companies like Allied will cut corners to save money wherever they can like hiring someone to do a half-baked welding job and then not testing the welds and the tanks to make sure the tanks were safe to fill up. I suspect your attitude would be different if that liquid fetilizer had flooded your yard and chased you out of your home,
Surprise decision!
Surprise decision! Government determines that more government is needed! What a revelation! In a related story, I have determined that it's in all of your best interest to send me money! Government regulation does not prevent these types of things from happening - often it encourages it, through poor hiring practices and entitlement mentality. Add to that the additional taxes and regulations, the headache of dealing with additional bureaucracy, and the resulting difficulty whenever you'd like to get something done. The net effect is a major negative. It's like Wetlands - you better not so much as squash a weed anywhere near a puddle, or the government will come after you for retroactive justice... because they have nothing better to do.
and a slap on the wrist
Allied is in the business of polluting. For decades they have been playing the game, paying the fines and continuing to pollute. And the rich continue to get richer.
I did not post the above comment...
...today. My comment was posted yesterday in regard to yesterday's article on the Allied incident. I wonder why the Pilot took the editorial liberty of moving my comment to today's article.