Chemtool, the chemical company whose Rockton factory erupted in flames on Monday, was sent to Illinois authorities for pollution and environmental breaches.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has asked the state attorney general to force Chemtool to “immediately halt the release and produce documentation” concerning the fire’s origin, as well as an estimate of sulfuric acid mist, particulate matter, and other air pollutants it has released.
The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, or CSB, said in a statement released Tuesday that all 70 personnel were successfully evacuated from the plant, with one fireman suffering a minor injury.
According to the CSB, a bigger team of federal investigators will arrive shortly, and air quality “continues to remain within an acceptable range.”
Because of concerns that fire suppressants would become toxic runoff in a nearby river, firefighters said Monday that they might let the chemicals burn off. However, the CSB said the initial approach “has been reassessed, and the plan now is to berm and boom the river access and extinguish the remaining blaze.”
It added, “This might add an environmental effect aspect to the event dynamic.”