Ammonia leak one-of-a-kind incident
NEWELL – The ammonia leak that occurred March 9 at Nitrochem in Newell in March was a one-time, unexpected occurrence according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. At the request of state Rep. Peter J. Daley, the DEP issued a post-event report indicating that the ammonia was released during the decommissioning of an ammonia storage tank when the inert gas used to force the ammonia from the tank mixed with the ammonia.
That mixture caused the flame used to burn off the ammonia gas to go out, releasing the ammonia into the air.
The process had been used without incident until nearing the end of the ammonia in the tank.
According to the DEP, a liquid residue containing ammonia is in the bottom of the tank. It will be removed by using a distillation/condensation/concentration process. The process should result in pure ammonia vapor, which can then be safely burned off.
“We believe that this process is predictable, well instrumented and can proceed for as long as necessary without further incident to conclude the process,” DEP Secretary David Hess wrote to Daley. “We believe that no further incidents will occur and we continue to monitor operations at the facility. While we have not ruled out enforcement action, we do not anticipate it in relation to these events.”
According to the report, there were no injuries related to the March 9 release of the ammonia gas. Residents downwind from Newell, including Elco, Roscoe, Speers and Charleroi were notified through the media of the event, though emergency management coordinators in the two closest communities, Newell and Elco, said they were not officially notified of the incident. Newell EMA coordinator Carl Lama said he was told by the fire chief, while Elco mayor and EMA coordinator Ron Tuman said he didn’t know about the incident until it was over, and even then he wasn’t officially notified.
Neither Tuman nor Lama received the report sent to Daley, though a note on the report indicates it was sent to the Fayette County EMA office.
Daley did not return a call placed to his office Tuesday.