Honeywell investigates chemical release
HOPEWELL - Honeywell continues to investigate the accidental release of a massive cloud of nitrogen oxide (NOx) into the air over their Hopewell plant Monday afternoon.
"Honeywell is currently conducting an investigation that includes a thorough look at our process controls that moderate NOx emissions to ensure they function correctly and identify any improvements that may be needed," said company spokesperson John McCarthy.
At about 4 p.m. on Monday, the mustard yellow cloud formed over the facility, prompting Honeywell to activate its emergency response measures and notify local emergency responders.
More than 600 workers are employed at Honeywell in Hopewell, but an evacuation was not necessary, McCarthy said. "We have a procedure called 'shelter-in-place' which tells employees to remain at their work station," McCarthy said, adding that there were no injuries. The facility quickly returned to normal operating conditions.
NOx is generated from the plant's manufacturing process and is typically emitted within levels permitted by federal and state regulations, McCarthy said. "The cloud was pretty big. I'm not sure if this exceeded what we are allowed to emit, but this will be determined by our investigation," he said.
McCarthy also said that authorities like the Department of Environmental Quality were informed as part of the company's emergency response.
Hopewell Police Chief John Keohane said that emergency dispatch received an unusually high volume of calls between 4:15 and 6:30 p.m. on Monday. "People simply wanted to know if the emission was harmful," he said.
NOx is a family of seven compounds but NO2 is the most common, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. NO2 is a common pollutant released by automobiles and power plants that can form ground-level ozone and acid rain. NO2 can be cause eye, nose, and throat irritation but is typically only harmful in very high doses, according to the EPA. Low levels can worsen symptoms of asthma, bronchitis or other lung impairments.
The Hopewell facility, part of the Resins and Chemicals business of Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies, is the world's largest single-site producer of caprolactam, the primary feedstock in the production of nylon polymer used in carpet fibers, plastics and films and ammonium sulfate fertilizer.
The plant has operated continuously since it was built in 1928 by Allied Chemical, a predecessor to today's Honeywell. The plant is Virginia's second largest exporter, shipping caprolactam to China and other Asian countries and fertilizer to Latin America.
- Markus Schmidt may be reached at 804-722-5172 or email@example.com.