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July 26th, 2007

"Solvent Tank Farm Was Not Inspected by Local or State Officials"

The Barton Solvent tank farm explosion that ignited about 300,000 pounds of toxic chemicals last week has not been explained by the company's owners, and local and state fire officials acknowledged that neither agency had ever inspected the tank area. The huge fire engulfed the 43-tank chemical storage and distribution facility on July 19.

Huge Explosion, Town Evacuation

The thunderous explosions, fire, and billows of black smoke hundreds of feet into the air prompted the evacuation of the 6,000 residents in nearby Valley Center, Kansas. After an inspection of the destroyed facility, a state fire marshal investigator said that the explosion occurred when liquid naptholite solvent was being pumped from a truck into a tank at the facility, and that an electrical charge, perhaps static electricity, ignited the chemical solvent. There were no injuries on the site.

No Inspections of Tanks

The Valley Center Fire Department, the Sedgwick County Fire Department, and state fire officials all admitted that none of their agencies does regular inspections of the Barton Solvent tanks that hold chemicals such as hydrocarbon solvents, ketones, alcohols, and oils.

The county's top fire official, Sedgwick County Fire Marshal Tim Millspaugh said, "These things should be inspected by somebody ... just like any commercial building should be. Maybe it's something the state should look into."

Air and Groundwater Contamination Possible

The town's evacuees were not allowed to return to their homes for one week. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sent staff to the explosion site to test the air and groundwater for toxic chemicals. Although the EPA's preliminary reports state that the groundwater had not been significantly impacted by the explosion, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) said that "The need for groundwater monitoring may continue for some time."

The KDHE's press release noted that "Solvent-contaminated water and soil is already being removed from Barton Solvents property, staged for analysis and properly disposed."

(Source: Associated Press)

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