The Times-Picayune breaks the following, which details that Dow’s Hahnville leak a week ago was not only a surprise incident to the company but, instead, one of a series of leaks that very well may have been avoided. In an article posted on NOLA.com, the Times-Picayune writes
An environmental watchdog group says foul-smelling ethyl acrylate fumes escaped from Dow Chemical’s Hahnville plant twice before the July 7 release that sent the odor over much of the New Orleans area.
The Louisiana Bucket Brigade will hold a news conference at 9 a.m. to discuss its findings that fumes from the plant have escaped three times since October including last week’s event.
The organization claims the company downplayed the effects of the release which irritated the noses and eyes of many residents in the area.
Company officials said fumes from the storage tank containing the chemical were not life-threatening.
Ethyl acrylate is used in the manufacture of plastics and resins.
As more information becomes available, it will be posted on this blog. Obviously this news conference, which is taking place right now, will shed more light on Dow’s practices in the Southeastern Louisiana area.