NEW INFO: Leaks at Dow Chemical Go Undetected for Nearly Two Weeks
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Updated: 11:17 PM Feb 17, 2010
NEW INFO: Leaks at Dow Chemical Go Undetected for Nearly Two Weeks
Dow Chemical reported two leaks at their facilities in Kanawha County Wednesday afternoon and say one of those leaks went undetected for two weeks.
Posted: 11:16 PM Feb 17, 2010
Reporter: Kallie Cart
Email Address: kallie.cart@wsaz.com
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KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Dow Chemical reported two leaks at their facilities in Kanawha County Wednesday afternoon and say one of those leaks went undetected for two weeks.

Kanawha County Emergency Services Director Dale Petry tells WSAZ.com that a safety valve at Dow's facility in Institute malfunctioned and was leaking ammonia.

A spokesperson for Dow Chemical says the leak started on Feb. 4, and at most the leak was 270 pounds per day.

Ammonia has a very strong-smelling odor. CW Sigman, Kanawha County's Fire Coordinator, says there was no complaints from the community about a chemical smell. The spokesperson for Dow says workers at the plant conduct inspections twice a day and couldn't smell the leak either. He says detectors on site didn't pick up on the leak because it was too small. They do not believe the public was ever in any danger.

Workers finally found the leak because they noticed the levels in the ammonia tank were fluctuating.

A leak also was reported at Dow's facility along MacCorkle Avenue in South Charleston around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. That release was 75 pounds of lubricant type of material.

Sigman says Dow reported both incidents as soon as they noticed the leaks. He also says no one in the surrounding communities was in danger because of these leaks.

Latest Comments

Posted by: KeepKanawhaSafe on Feb 23, 2010 at 01:27 AM

To Whitney-First of all I know that MIC is NOT detectable on ANY of Bayer's/Dow's air monitoring systems because they have admitted that fact openly to the press many many times. This is not news to anyone. Secondly, during the deadly toxic explosion on August 28, 2008 it was proven and openly discussed numerous times in the media that the air monitoring systems were disabled/not working! Next, since then on numerous occasions where leaks have occurred the air monitor devices have been again disabled, not working, or broken. Useless! As for your argument on penalization the community has lost trust and faith in this company because of their sloppy safety procedures and continued disrespect for the health and welfare of our communities and environment. I am interested in preventing a second Bhopal and preventing a holocaust from happening in the Kanawha Valley. No one should have to be bullied into leaving their homes. We should be free to live in peace from fear of toxic chemicals.
Posted by: Whitney on Feb 21, 2010 at 10:39 AM

TO KeepKanawhaSafe -- how do you know that MIC is not detectable on their monitor systems? and how do you know their monitors have been proven not to work?? Maybe you need to read this story again! & also how do you know they are not being penalized? The plants get huge fines for this type of stuff! And as a wife of a BCS employee, I can tell you all that safety is their first priorotiy and they all do their best at preventing leaks! ACCIDENTS HAPPEN! That is exactly what it is!! You all probably don't even give this much attention to a tanker driver who jack-knifes because he was going to fast and spills thousands of gallons of ammonia or gasoline onto the road way! all of these chemical plants were here first!! if you all are so concerned about your health, MOVE! if you are so concerned, i don't understand why you just don't move!
Posted by: KeepKanawhaSafe on Feb 19, 2010 at 02:10 PM

If you smell any strange odors in the air report it to 911 and also call 1-800-642-3074 this is the 24-hour number for the Dept. of Environmental Protection and Homeland Security. ANYTIME you smell something, CALL IT IN! You heard straight from Mr. Kent Carper and Bayer CropScience aka. Dow officials folks, "Citizens are the official watchdogs!" if we don't call and report any strange odors the company IS NOT going to willingly turn themselves in when they have no incentives to do so. NO ONE besides the plant is monitoring the toxic releases of these poisonous chemicals, so far their monitors have not been proven to be working, they don't even work at all on MIC! Shockingly our local government officials continue to look the other way so this company will not be penalized for sloppy safety procedures putting thousands of our precious families at risk. Please keep a log of any health problems you are having on a daily basis it could be related to plant activity. I am suffering too.
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