The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Albany Fire Department are working to remove harmful chemicals from the facilities of a company that went out of business on October 11. The Albany Fire Department ensured the chemicals were immediately stable and contacted EPA on October 15 for technical assistance to safely remove the chemicals.
Absorbent Technology, which produced a soil additive and fertilizer that was used to improve crop irrigation efficiency, used various chemicals in its operations. The company facility left a tank containing acrylonitrile on its property, located at 140 Queen Avenue SW and 2830 Ferry Street SW. Acrylonitrile is a flammable and corrosive chemical with the potential to impact human health. EPA and the Albany Fire Department have secured the tank and plan to remove it on Monday October 21. EPA has all expertise on-site needed to safely remove the acrylonitrile.
As of Thursday October 17, two federal on-scene coordinators were in Albany with a team of 12 contractors, chemist, engineers and other specialists.
EPA is working closely with Albany Fire Department, Public Works Environmental Services, the City Attorney’s office and Linn County Public Health. Facility operators and both property owners are cooperating.
