Groups: Dismantle W. Va. plant's chemical piles

Tag : ketone

In a letter circulated Wednesday, the groups called for the removalof methyl isocyanate and phosgene from the Bayer CropScience plantlocated about 10 miles from Charleston. Neither was involved in theAug. 28 explosion that killed one worker and seriously injuredanother.
A methyl isocyanate leak killed at least 15,000 people near a UnionCarbide pesticide factory in Bhopal, India, in 1984. Phosgene wasused as a weapon during World War I. Both chemicals are commonlyused in pesticides and plastics.
The primary chemical involved in the explosion, methyl isobutylketone, is highly flammable but not especially toxic, according tothe state Department of Environmental Protection.
Nevertheless, the groups' letter said Bayer was slow in providingthat information to emergency crews after the explosion.
"Local emergency responders weren't sure what to do for severalhours after the blast. In case of a toxic release, thousands ofresidents would have been endangered," the letter said.
Bayer site leader Nick Crosby said the two chemicals that theenvironmental groups want gone posed no risk during the explosion,and that phosgene in particular is stored nowhere near the site ofthe blast.
"MIC was not involved in the incident," Crosby said Wednesday. "Allof the safety systems associated with it performed perfectly."
The company does regret that it didn't communicate better in thehours immediately after the explosion, Crosby said.
"We were unaware that our neighbors did not know that at the time,"he said. "Our communication did not meet the high standards weexpect of ourselves at Bayer CropScience."
Groups signing onto the letter include the environmental caucus ofthe West Virginia Young Democrats, the Ohio Valley EnvironmentalCoalition, the state chapter of the Sierra Club and a German groupcalled the Coalition Against Bayer Dangers.
Bayer plans to designate a person onsite to handle 911 calls,including telling emergency crews about any potential danger to thearea, and to provide Metro 911 radios to staff members in casephone lines are down.
Government agencies and Bayer are investigating the cause of theexplosion. Crosby said the unit where it occurred won't reopenuntil the investigation is complete.
About 700 people work at the plant that primarily makes activeingredients for agricultural, industrial and other products.