Cloud of Chlorine Gas at Clean Harbors Plant Prompts Evacuations in El Dorado
By: Staff
Updated: December 18, 2012
9:40 Update:
Phil Retallick, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Clean Harbors have released an updated statement on what happened at its El Dorado plant earlier today:
First we want to thank the coordinated efforts of the Union County Sheriff's Department, El Dorado Police Department, Union County Emergency Management, El Dorado Fire Department, along with all other first responders that worked with our professionals at Clean Harbors to bring this incident under control.
At approximately 4:00 pm on December 18, a trailer containing pool chemicals was reported to have a reaction which caused a large cloud to appear over our transportation yard and move northerly toward the Union County Sheriff's Office and Correctional Facility.
Local authorities called for an evacuation of the correctional facility at the Union County Sheriff's Department. According to Sheriff Mike McGough the inmates were transported to another secure facility without incident. Traffic was rerouted around the area by local authorities until the incident was under control and safe.
The incident occurred when a trailer containing chlorinated pool chemicals had a reaction and released a cloud of chlorinated gas. The cloud moved north toward the Union County Sheriff's Department which caused traffic to be rerouted and the Sheriff's Department to be evacuated. There were no injuries reported in this incident. According to Fire Chief Chad Mosby, there was no fire present in the trailer as well. The reaction in now under control by Clean Harbors Emergency Response Teams and the trailer of chemicals is being monitored as well as air quality in the surrounding area.
According to Jerry Thomas, Director of the Union County Emergency Management we are glad to report that this incident is over with no injuries reported. Thanks to the coordinated efforts we were able to minimize this situation. We also want to acknowledge the offer of assistance extended from El Dorado Chemical and Great Lakes to provide help along with air quality monitoring.
8:10 Update:
Phil Retallick, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Clean Harbors have released a statement on what happened at its El Dorado plant earlier today:
At approximately 4:00 pm a trailer containing pool chemicals was reported to have a reaction which caused a large cloud to appear over our transportation yard and move northerly toward the Union County Sheriff's Office and Correctional Facility. This trailer was received at our facility yesterday. Local authorities have called for an evacuation of the correctional facility and a convenient store in close proximity to our facility. Traffic has been rerouted around the area by local authorities with the assistance of the Clean Harbors personnel.
The reaction within the trailer is being contained and we expect to have this under control tonight. It is our experience that in dealing with this chemical that it quickly dissipates into the environment and should not cause any long term effects.
The trailer contains a chlorinated chemical, used in the treatment of residential swimming pools. It is not a carcinogenetic or a herbicide. I repeat it's the same chemical used to treat residential swimming pools.
Area residents could experience minor eye irritation if exposed to the cloud. We encourage our neighbors to stay indoors and monitor updates from local authorities. We are working closely with Arkansas Dept of Environmental Quality, Union County Sheriffs Dept , El Dorado City Police, local fire department and the Union County Dept of Emergency Services.
We will continue to update the public as new information is available.
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6:45 UPDATE: Our reporter on scene is still waiting for the press conference to start, but she is being told by Clean Harbors employees that the night shift employees are not being allowed in to work and that some employees inside the building can't come out. It is unknown why some are still inside.
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6:15 UPDATE: El Dorado reporter, Brea Douglas, is waiting for a press conference to start regarding the fire at Clean Harbors plant. We'll update you with more information when we get it.
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Crews are on the scene of a fire at Clean Harbors in El Dorado. Heavy smoke can be seen in the area of the plant.
According to Tommy Jackson with Arkansas Department of Emergency Management evacuations have been issued due the fire at the plant.
They have evacuated 400-500 people in the area. Including the Union County Sheriff's Office and 190 inmates. Dispatch has been shut down.
Jackson says Clean Harbors store 1249 five gallon buckets of a swimming pool cleansing agent.
Highway 63 has also been closed down.
The Clean Harbors plant is located on American Road, south of E. Main Street.
According to its website Clean Harbors El Dorado incineration facility specializes in the treatment of hazardous wastes and non-hazardous wastes by high temperature incineration.
Just recently the Clean Harbors incinerator was awarded OSHA's VPP Star Certification.
www.cleanharbors.com
Phil Retallick, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Clean Harbors have released an updated statement on what happened at its El Dorado plant earlier today:
First we want to thank the coordinated efforts of the Union County Sheriff's Department, El Dorado Police Department, Union County Emergency Management, El Dorado Fire Department, along with all other first responders that worked with our professionals at Clean Harbors to bring this incident under control.
At approximately 4:00 pm on December 18, a trailer containing pool chemicals was reported to have a reaction which caused a large cloud to appear over our transportation yard and move northerly toward the Union County Sheriff's Office and Correctional Facility.
Local authorities called for an evacuation of the correctional facility at the Union County Sheriff's Department. According to Sheriff Mike McGough the inmates were transported to another secure facility without incident. Traffic was rerouted around the area by local authorities until the incident was under control and safe.
The incident occurred when a trailer containing chlorinated pool chemicals had a reaction and released a cloud of chlorinated gas. The cloud moved north toward the Union County Sheriff's Department which caused traffic to be rerouted and the Sheriff's Department to be evacuated. There were no injuries reported in this incident. According to Fire Chief Chad Mosby, there was no fire present in the trailer as well. The reaction in now under control by Clean Harbors Emergency Response Teams and the trailer of chemicals is being monitored as well as air quality in the surrounding area.
According to Jerry Thomas, Director of the Union County Emergency Management we are glad to report that this incident is over with no injuries reported. Thanks to the coordinated efforts we were able to minimize this situation. We also want to acknowledge the offer of assistance extended from El Dorado Chemical and Great Lakes to provide help along with air quality monitoring.
8:10 Update:
Phil Retallick, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Clean Harbors have released a statement on what happened at its El Dorado plant earlier today:
At approximately 4:00 pm a trailer containing pool chemicals was reported to have a reaction which caused a large cloud to appear over our transportation yard and move northerly toward the Union County Sheriff's Office and Correctional Facility. This trailer was received at our facility yesterday. Local authorities have called for an evacuation of the correctional facility and a convenient store in close proximity to our facility. Traffic has been rerouted around the area by local authorities with the assistance of the Clean Harbors personnel.
The reaction within the trailer is being contained and we expect to have this under control tonight. It is our experience that in dealing with this chemical that it quickly dissipates into the environment and should not cause any long term effects.
The trailer contains a chlorinated chemical, used in the treatment of residential swimming pools. It is not a carcinogenetic or a herbicide. I repeat it's the same chemical used to treat residential swimming pools.
Area residents could experience minor eye irritation if exposed to the cloud. We encourage our neighbors to stay indoors and monitor updates from local authorities. We are working closely with Arkansas Dept of Environmental Quality, Union County Sheriffs Dept , El Dorado City Police, local fire department and the Union County Dept of Emergency Services.
We will continue to update the public as new information is available.
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6:45 UPDATE: Our reporter on scene is still waiting for the press conference to start, but she is being told by Clean Harbors employees that the night shift employees are not being allowed in to work and that some employees inside the building can't come out. It is unknown why some are still inside.
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6:15 UPDATE: El Dorado reporter, Brea Douglas, is waiting for a press conference to start regarding the fire at Clean Harbors plant. We'll update you with more information when we get it.
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Crews are on the scene of a fire at Clean Harbors in El Dorado. Heavy smoke can be seen in the area of the plant.
According to Tommy Jackson with Arkansas Department of Emergency Management evacuations have been issued due the fire at the plant.
They have evacuated 400-500 people in the area. Including the Union County Sheriff's Office and 190 inmates. Dispatch has been shut down.
They are evacuating 5 miles north in a line...not in a radius because of the wind.
Jackson says there was a fire at the plant, but no flames. There is a big cloud over the plant.Jackson says Clean Harbors store 1249 five gallon buckets of a swimming pool cleansing agent.
Highway 63 has also been closed down.
The Clean Harbors plant is located on American Road, south of E. Main Street.
According to its website Clean Harbors El Dorado incineration facility specializes in the treatment of hazardous wastes and non-hazardous wastes by high temperature incineration.
Just recently the Clean Harbors incinerator was awarded OSHA's VPP Star Certification.
www.cleanharbors.com
In August 2011, crews were called out to Clean Harbors for a fire.
That fire destroyed one of the plant warehouses and burned for three hours before it finally died down.
