SOY-BASED TONER CAUSES CHEMICAL CLOUD IN WASTE-DUMP

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SOY-BASED TONER CAUSES CHEMICAL CLOUD IN WASTE-DUMP

Chemical cloud forces evacuation at Caseyville company; IEPA called in
A chemical reaction that emitted a cloud of smoke at Illini Environmental, 8895 California Drive in Caseyville, was under control Wednesday night, according to St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency Director Randy Lay.The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency planned to bring in an investigator today to determine what exactly caused the reaction, Agency spokeswoman Patti Thompson said.The reaction occurred inside a 15-yard container within the facility, according to St. Clair Emergency Services Deputy Chief Brian Donley and company president and co-owner Mark Flood.It was the Environmental Protection Agency’s understanding that reaction involved soybean-based toner ink, kitty litter with anti-freeze absorbed in it, chlorine tablets and latex paint, all mixed with scraps of diapers, Thompson said.

The materials had been solidified in order to be properly disposed of at the Milam Landfill in Fairmont City, according to Flood.The materials involved were not hazardous, Flood said. No one was injured, according to him and authorities."We’re going to check the materials in the container and see what caused the reaction," Flood said.The company is near the intersection of Illinois 157 and St. Clair Avenue. Authorities were blocking Wednesday evening any nonlocal traffic from entering California Drive between Illinois 157 and 79th Street. It handles industrial by-products for recycling, waste management and transportation, according to its website.

The company evacuated its employees after the incident occurred at about 4:30 p.m. and notified authorities about the incident, Flood said. French Village firefighters were already on their way after being notified of smoke in the area, Fairview Deputy Fire Chief Bruce Green said.Residents near the location were advised to stay inside and to tell authorities if they began to feel ill, Green said.

No chemicals were detected when authorities tested the air near the facility, Donley said.Although authorities said the situation was under control, several firefighters, emergency personnel, county and state officials and police officers remained at the scene Wednesday night."Better to be safe than sorry," Green said

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March 2, 2011 at 7:14 AM