ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency awaits reports from Cristal Global’s Millennium Inorganic Chemicals after an unplanned vapor release Saturday afternoon, said Mike Settles with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
In the meantime, Cristal Global Millennium investigated the cause of the cloud that hung over State and Middle Roads, starting at about 2:45 p.m. Saturday. Bystanders said it looked like a cloud of smoke.
“The initial investigation indicates the release originated as a result of an internal failure of a reboiler at the Plant 2 facility,” according to a statement from Cristal Global released Monday. “The reboiler utilizes steam to heat liquid titanium tetrachloride for further processing.”
The cloud consisted of mostly steam, titanium dioxide and a limited amount of hydrogen chloride, the press release said.
Titanium dioxide is a white pigment used in paints, paper and coatings. In this case, hydrogen chloride was a by-product of the reaction of the steam, steam condensate and titanium tetrachloride, according to the company’s press release.
As a safety precaution, the company initiated its Emergency Response Plan, which included sounding the plant warning alarm and contacting local emergency services. Immediate steps were taken to secure the plant, officials said.
The Ashtabula Township firefighters blocked traffic away from the plant for an hour or so, and residents immediately to the south and west of the plant were asked to go inside as a precautionary measure, according to a firefighter’s report.
When area residents hear the plant’s alarm, they should go inside their homes, close their windows and doors and move to an interior room until they are told the emergency is over, officials said.
Plant 2 was shut down and an investigation is under way to determine the cause of the release, Cristal Global officials said.
Plant 1 operations were not impacted by the event, officials said.
The information about the unplanned release will be reported to the Ohio EPA, and the U.S. EPA, plant officials said.
Settles said the Ohio EPA will release its report once it receives the reports from Millennium. Settles also said Millennium is up-to-date and properly permitted with the Ohio and U.S. EPA.
Local News
OEPA awaits Millennium report
Company investigates cause of cloud that hung over State, Middle
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