A Buckeye chemical company that leaked nitric acid into the air in late June is now under investigation after Arizona Department of Environmental Quality announced on Friday that the company has been found to have multiple safety and environmental violations.
On the afternoon of June 21, Thatcher Company of Arizona leaked over 10,000 pounds of nitric acid into the atmosphere, prompting a shelter-in-place order for nearby Buckeye residents, according to ADEQ. Residents with respiratory issues were evacuated.
ADEQ said its inspectors visited the chemical plant on June 28 after fire officials deemed the facility safe and operational.
A formal notice of violation issued to Thatcher Company of Arizona Friday found four significant violations, along with seven additional varied violations. These infractions indicated the company neglected safety standards and improperly handled hazardous materials.
"This incident at Thatcher Company's facility was unacceptable," wrote Julie Riemenschnieder, ADEQ Waste Programs director in a news release.
Among the four significant violations were key factors that contributed to the leak. ADEQ found that a fitting between mixing tanks broke, causing a leak of nitric acid during its transfer between tanks. The violation report noted that facility staff discovered the fitting failed because it was "incompatible with the corrosive material in the tank."
ADEQ also found improper storage of hazardous materials related to the spill and cleaning methods that did not meet industry standards.
“Hazardous waste facilities must adhere to the stringent safety protocols... It is crucial for these facilities to have emergency planning, including notification to the local emergency authority," Riemenschneider said.
Thatcher Company of Arizona was given 10 days to appeal the violations if the company believes they did not occur. Otherwise, all violations had to be addressed in 30 days with a receipt of notice sent to the state.
The Thatcher Company of Arizona did not immediately respond to The Republic's request for comment.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: State agency finds violations for Buckeye chemical plant that leaked nitric acid in June
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