THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 11, 1996 TAG: 9611110035
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 29 lines
Hazardous materials experts were working early today to contain a leak of a highly-flammable chemical from a tank at Norfolk International Terminals.
Three NIT employees who were exposed to the chemical and were experiencing eye irritation and chest tightness were taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital for observation. Their names were not released.
NIT officials refused news media access to the property. The terminals are state-owned facilities operated by the Virginia Port Authority.
Jack Goldhorne, a fire department spokesman, said the chemical - identified as methyl formate - was leaking at a rate of two to three gallons a minute. The container, in a storage yard, holds up to 6,000 gallons. The tank was believed to be full.
The chemical is described as extremely flammable. It's vapors can cause flash fires and ignite explosively. The vapors are heavier than air and may travel along the ground or be moved by ventilation to ignition sources.
The incident was first reported at 10:30 p.m. In addition to fire department crews, the Coast Guard was on the scene.
Industrial Marine Services was called in to handle the clean up.
Hazardous materials crews were working early this morning to contain and control the spill.
It was unclear how the spill occurred. by CNB