New Haven, W.Va.-Appalachian Power officials say there were no serious injuries when a weak solution of ammonia and water escaped from a valve inadvertently left open during construction work at the AEP Mountaineer Power Plant in Mason County. Appalachian spokesman Phil Moye told Green Markets that contract workers were testing a pump at the plant in New Haven in preparation for the initial startup of the carbon capturing storage project equipment when the incident occurred the afternoon of Aug. 12. Some 12 of them were exposed to the release, which amounted to about 50 gallons of a solution of about 3 percent ammonia. According to Moye, most of them showered and changed clothes and showed no signs of injury, although three were taken to a local hospital, where they were checked over and released. Mason County 911 dispatchers said they were initially called to respond to the plant, but the officials later called them to cancel emergency responders because the incident was not as big as they first thought. Moye explained that ammonia will be used in the carbon capturing process once it becomes operational.
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