INSTITUTE, W.Va. — Both the federal EPA and state DEP remain at the Ames Goldsmith Catalyst Refiners facility in Kanawha County where a chemical reaction Wednesday claimed the lives of two workers and critically injured a third worker who were decommissioning a chemical tank.
The names of those who died have not yet been released.
State DEP Chief Inspector of Environmental Enforcement Brad Wright told MetroNews discussions Thursday at the site was to how to ventilate the building where the deadly chemical reaction took place.
“It will be to ventilate the building for entry and then further clean-up inside the building and assessment of the incident,” Wright said. “There are some fumes left in the building that’s why they are working on a ventilation plan. What I heard preliminarily was a level in the building that wouldn’t cause a concern has vented into the atmosphere now.”
Meanwhile, the federal EPA has 11 air monitors on the site. DEP spokesman Terry Fletcher said the DEP and local firefighters did the initial air monitor until EPA arrived Wednesday. Fletcher said as of midday Thursday there were no air quality concerns.
“They’re continuously monitoring primarily for hydrogen sulfide, that’s there focus right now, we spoke to them this morning and as of right now they are non-detect, so we so no ongoing threat,” Fletcher said.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Thursday afternoon the air monitoring plan would continue between the state and EPA.
“Our focus is on getting answers and ensuring the community is protected,” Morrisey said in a news release. “We are taking a thorough, coordinated approach to monitoring this situation and holding all responsible parties accountable.”
Ambulance workers okay
There were seven members of Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority crews that had to be decontaminated after being exposed to the fumes from the chemical reaction. KCEAA Executive Director Monica Mason said Thursday all seven were treated and released.
“We just wanted to make sure they were okay and I’m happy to report everyone is doing okay,” Mason told MetroNews.
She said the workers were either exposed at the site or why transporting patients to hospitals in South Charleston and Charleston.
“We were just operating out of an abundance of caution and made sure they got evaluated,” she said.
Response lauded
Kanawha County Commission Commission President Ben Salango called the local emergency response that took place Wednesday “textbook.”
“We’ve had issues over the years with shelter in places that didn’t go quite as we planned but we’ve learned from all of those,” Salango said Thursday on MetroNews “Talkline.”
Mason agreed.
“It was a great collaborative effort between a lot of agencies and partners.”
Mason said she appreciated the work of both WVU Medicine Thomas Hospital and CAMC-Vandalia.
“I appreciate it and that’s what made everything go so smoothly,” Mason said.
CSB to investigate
MetroNews has learned the U.S. Chemical Safety Board will conduct a full investigation into what happened.
The CSB is expected to formally announce the start-up of an investigation later on Thursday, a spokesperson told MetroNews.
The CSB has been part of a number of investigations in the Kanawha Valley in past years including the 2020 Optima Belle plant explosion that kileld one worker, the 2014 water crisis that was caused by a chemical leak and the 2008 Bayer CropScience Plant explosion at Institute that claimed two lives.
Salango said Kanawha County Emergency Management will be at the site as long as they need to be. He said the investigation into what happened will be left to others.
“Our mission is to immediately secure the site and protect as many people (as possible). Where the investigation goes from there is really up to the feds,” Salango said Thursday on MetroNews “Talkline.” “It’s going to be OSHA, it’s going to the Chemical Safety Board, maybe the DEP. They will come and do their thing and the reports will come out.”
Wright said the DEP would be looking at the incident through all of the regulatory angles that are in the agency’s jurisdiction.
“If there’s any issues related to management or disposal of hazardous waste we’ll be looking at that,” he told MetroNews. “There was at least one registered above ground storage tank in the building and we’ll be looking at that.”