DONALDSONVILLE — A second explosion has occurred at an Ascension Parish chemical plant in less than two days, killing one person and injuring at least eight others. Sheriff Jeff Wiley said an 18-wheeler was taking on product at CF Industries in Donaldsonville when the explosion occurred about 6:45 p.m. Friday. He said there has been one fatality. Randall Mann, a spokesman for Acadian Ambulance Services said eight people were transported to area hospitals, two of them by helicopter. On Thursday morning the Williams Olefins plant exploded, killing two and injuring more than 100. Jared Sandifer, a spokesman for State Police, said there was an explosion at CF Industries with injuries and people have been airlifted from the plant. The plant is located at 39018 La. 3089. The CF Industries plant was the site of a 2000 explosion that killed three and injured eight others. That explosion resulted in an Occupational Safety and Health Administration fine of $149,850 and 14 citations for safety and health violations. Another CF Industries employee was injured in November 1998 when a natural gas-fired auxiliary boiler exploded. According to the company’s website, CF Industries’ nitrogen complex at Donaldsonville is North America’s largest nitrogen operation. It can produce and ship approximately 5 million tons of nitrogen for agricultural and industrial uses each year. Originally built in the 1960s, the website says the Donaldsonville complex has since undergone significant expansion and modernization. The plant produces anhydrous ammonia, urea, and urea ammonium nitrate solution, the three most used nitrogen products, the website states. The complex ships these products by pipeline, barge, rail, and truck, serving agricultural and other customers directly and via the company’s vast distribution network.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 01:24:42 +0000
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