LAST NIGHT'S BLE-25 PUBLIC MEETING

The public meeting put on by Chemtura/Uniroyal last evening at the Lions Hall in Elmira was informative, low key and professional. Most of the usual Chemtura reps were present along with numerous other individuals to help out. Boards were set up in a large circle which explained in detail the cause of the release of BLE-25 to the atmosphere on September 27, 2010 as well as the actions since taken to prevent a repeat.

This release to the air travelled nearly 1.5 km and did damage to cars, homes, swimming pools, patios and the like. It contained Diphenylamine (DPA) and Acetone both components of the mass of contaminated soils on site as well as part of the contaminated groundwater.

I was most interested in the technology they would use to avoid future incidents. While it isn't rocket science nevertheless from what I was advised both in their written handouts and in person by Josef and Dwighte of Chemtura, it does appear to be appropriate and effective. It involves a second holding tank to which a problematic chemical reaction can be transferred in an emergency. It also involves updated and improved audio and visual alarms to advise operators sooner that action needs to be taken. Finally what wasn't included in the written literature but which I was advised personally was that if all else fails, yes the rupture discs are still in place so that an overpressurized batch of chemicals can and will be released via piping outdoors before they explode inside causing either personal injuries or a fire. Here is the last improvement. Instead of being released unimpeded into the air to be again distributed to the unsuspecting residents of Elmira, there is in effect a type of "raincap" if you will in place above the end of the pipe. The purpose of this large cap is to collect the gas/liquid and direct it downwards (outside the vent pipe) so that as the gas returns to a liquid state it is mostly collected.

As I understand what I read and was told last evening I am reasonably confident that Elmira residents will not be subjected to another release of BLE-25 or anything else from this particular pressure vessel. I inquired of Dwighte and Josef as to whether or not every other pressure vessel will also be updated or so retrofitted. The answer was yes however with this proviso: there are a lot of vessels and a lot of work for each and every one. I suggested that within five to ten years Elmira residents could feel confident that there would be no more releases due to out of control chemical reactions and received an affirmative answer. Time will tell.