Chesapeake, Va.-Allied Terminals, the scene of a November 2008 catastrophic tank failure that released 2.5 million gallons of liquid fertilizer (GM Nov. 17, 2008), has the go-ahead from the city to replace the tank and add another structure of a smaller size. According to Pat Hughes in the city’s department of development and permits, Allied will be installing a larger – 3.1 million gallon – tank at the site, and will be adding another 200,000 gallon tank, also for fertilizer storage. Hughes said the city’s approval of the tanks was disclosed July 8 at one of the regular meetings of South Hill community residents whose properties were inundated in the release, which seriously injured two workers. “Multiple issues were discussed regarding the neighborhood, and one or two of those in attendance were not pleased that the tanks were being built,” Hughes told Green Markets. “From our standpoint it’s an allowable and permitted use.” A representative of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality described how the plant life on the properties had rebounded after being awash in fertilizer. The meetings were held weekly right after the incident, and since have been cut back to monthly and then quarterly. Hughes said the tanks will be built to industry and state standards adopted by the legislature, and the city will be conducting special inspections during construction to verify the requirements are being met.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain