Committee: Bayer Engaged in Campaign of Secrecy
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Updated: 7:19 PM Apr 21, 2009
Committee: Bayer Engaged in Campaign of Secrecy
A congressional committee report says Bayer CropScience withheld information from emergency responders after a deadly explosion at a West Virginia chemical plant last summer.
Posted: 12:40 PM Apr 21, 2009
Reporter: Carrie Jones; The Associated Press
Email Address: carrie.jones@wsaz.com
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UPDATE: 6:20 p.m.
WASHINGTON (WSAZ) -- Kanawha County officials got a chance to speak their minds Tuesday on Capitol Hill.

They took part in a congressional hearing surrounding the deadly explosion at the Bayer CropScience plant in Institute last August.

"Had I known then what I know right now I would have ordered an evacuation," said Kanawha County Commissioner Kent Carper.

Investigators found that during the explosion pieces of equipment were hurled through the plant. Some of that debris landed near the area where the deadly chemical MIC is housed.

House Committee members questioned Bayer Crop Science site manager Nick Crosby about the company's delay in response. He claims that the excitement of the situation was part of the delay.

"The security guard that was accountable for relaying that message, he became overwhelmed by the incident. He failed to relate information correctly to 911 in a timely manner," Crosby said.

But Committee Chairman Henry Waxman was quick to ask if all the blame lies with one person. He also grilled Crosby on why the company didn't alert emergency responders about possible chemicals that could have been released into the air. Crosby said at that time, they didn't have reason to believe their was anything toxic in the plume over the area.

If any chemicals could have been in that cloud has never been released.

Investigators have also had a hard time learning about the incident. John Bresland, an official with the U.S. Chemical and Safety Board, said that the issue of Secret Sensitive Information has kept them from getting all the details they need. Certain information, especially concerning MIC, has to be kept a secret. Some organizations feel that detail information could put them at risk of terrorist attacks.

The public will have a chance to learn more about the explosion. The U.S. Chemical and Safety Board will release their preliminary findings this Thursday. A public hearing will be held on the West Virginia State University Campus. That meeting gets underway at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.


Original story
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A congressional committee report says Bayer
CropScience withheld information from emergency responders after a
deadly explosion at a West Virginia chemical plant last summer.

The staff report by the House Energy and Commerce Committee says
that its investigation revealed that Bayer CropScience "engaged in
a campaign of secrecy." The explosion at the Bayer CropScience
plant in Institute killed two people.

The report says the explosion came close to compromising a tank
holding methyl isocyanate, or MIC. The same chemical was responsible for the deaths of thousands in Bhopal, India, when it leaked from a former Union Carbide plant in 1984.

The staff report says that had a projectile hit that tank, the consequences "could have eclipsed" the 1984 disaster.

Latest Comments

Posted by: James on Apr 24, 2009 at 11:44 PM

As someone who has several friends and family members who work in chemical plants let me just say this. These workers know the risks of the job they do. They know that the events of August can happen at any moment. They think about it at home as well as work. The events of that day are tragic and I am deeply sorry for the families of those lives lost that day, but I bet that they knew the risk as well. As a matter of fact, I promise you they did. You see, my father was there that day, and I can promise you he knows the risks as well. Growing up, even I knew what could happen. To those who want to see the plant go, let me ask this. How are you going to replace those hundreds of jobs? Not everybody can or even wants to work in a mall. Wait a moment, you could be robbed at gun point so I guess those jobs need to go too because that would out you in danger. Let me say this, I'm pretty sure the communities grew up around the plants. So, if you don't like it, MOVE.
Posted by: anonymous on Apr 23, 2009 at 04:29 PM

I knew one of the workers killed at the plant and the last thing that he would want is to see the plant shut down. He knew the risk of his job everyday he went in. All those workers do. Do you stop driving your car because someone was killed in the exact model. Accidents , as unfortunate as they are, happen , but because of them we have learned how to do things better. Should bayer be let off the hook, of course not , they should be made to make everything as well as possible and hopefully a lot safer for everyone. This valley cannot afford more job loses , and these jobs cannot be replaced. If you moved here and didnt know that chemical plants are dangerous places then move away ,if you have lived here all your life and didnt know, well then you are just stupid. Dont listen to the commissioners and all their talk , remember 2 of them are lawyers and would probably like to sink their teeth in a lawsuit. Remember this is the chemical valley for a reason .
Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 22, 2009 at 10:35 PM

They should SHUT THIS CHEMICAL PLANT DOWN before lots of people die needlessly. To think that the people running the plant had the gall to cite "National Security" as a reason not to warn the public. It goes to show that you cannot trust ANYONE these days, especially GREEDY, POWER HUNGRY people.
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