Hydrite Chemical is a company that has a location in Cottage Grove that many people are not even aware exists. With the troubling smell and the numerous spills coming from this facility, that is changing. Tonight there is a meeting at Flynn Hall at 5PM to discuss the issuing of a permit extension of their current operations We need people to show up to this meeting.
hydrite spill report 10_24_2011
Email I received this morning.
If you’re not already aware, there is a public hearing scheduled for 5pm tomorrow (Friday) at Flynn Hall to request approval for a permit extension of their current operations. Some of us from the neighborhoods immediately east of the facility are planning to attend this hearing to voice our concerns about recent activity at Hydrite. These include, among others:
1. Increased frequency of strong solvent-based odors coming from the plant. These episodes have been on the increase during the past three years and may be tied to changes in their method of storage, disposal, and transfer of certain chemical compounds used regularly at the plant. It is not clear whether there are any immediate health threats from these odors but I personally witnessed an episode at Huston park two summers ago when I was watching my son play baseball and numerous people there complained about itchy/running eyes, nose, and scratchy throat problems that seemed to coincide with the strong odor occurring that day. Even if the health threats are minimal, it does not make our community a pleasant place to live.
2. The persistent existence of more than 20 tanker trucks parked on the neighborhood side (east side) of the plant facility. What are the policies governing how many trucks can be parked at one time in such a small space and for how long? What chemicals are allowed/not allowed to be stored in these tanker trucks? Should we be alarmed in the change in signage that recently occurred along the fence line behind these trucks that now implies a more flammable/explosive type threat may exist in that area?
3. What preventive measures are being put into place to avoid any further accidents similar to the one that occurred last month which released 20 pounds of butyl acetate to the environment from one of these tanker trucks? This not only caused that familiar strong odor but also threatened the groundwater below until it was eventually removed (you may have noticed some of the recent digging equipment parked towards the back of the facility). I was able to get a copy of the full report of this spill from the WNDR and have attached it this e-mail if you’re interested in reading further. Note that this report probably would not have been written if it weren’t for a complaint filed by one of your neighbors. This is an important point. We have to speak up or the operations at Hydrite will continue status quo and their gradual expansion into new areas will continue unimpeded.
There are other concerns that are being discussed but probably not appropriate to mention here. Those described above are the most compelling concerns that some of us have and would like to get answers immediately. If you have similar concerns or separate ones of your own that would you like to ask about please consider showing up at 5pm tomorrow for this hearing. The point is not to try and stop Hydrite from doing business in the village. They are an important part of this community. The point is to show them that we are watching and that they need to take better ownership for what is going on in that plant and how it might be affecting the community around it.
This is pretty new to me but I will be following this story from now. if anyone has any information or concerns feel free to email me directly, (anonymously if need be) and I will do my best to check it out.
See you tonight!
