Washington, D.C. April 4, 2024 – Today, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) announced that the agency has launched investigations into toxic chemical releases at two facilities in Louisiana during 2023: the release of hydrogen fluoride (HF) and chlorine at the Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies facility in Geismar, LA in January 2023, and the release of ethylene oxide (EtO) at the Dow Chemical Louisiana Operations facility in Plaquemine, LA in July 2023.
Both incidents were reported to the CSB in accordance with the agency’s Accidental Release Reporting Rule (40 CFR Part 1604). (See the full announcement here).
On January 23, 2023, a heat exchanger ruptured at the Honeywell facility in Geismar, LA, resulting in an explosion and the release of approximately 870 pounds of hydrogen fluoride (HF) and 1,700 pounds of chlorine. Fortunately no one was injured, but officials had to close nearby highways as a caution.
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