Emergency Response to the illegal disposal of four cylinders of Anhydrous Hydrogen Chloride (Muriatic Acid).
Four cylinders of Anhydrous Hydrogen Chloride (Muriatic Acid) were illegally dumped in a storm water ditch alongside Harper Lane in Arnold, Missouri. They were discovered on March 3, 2006 in the ditch, less than one quarter mile from Arnold's Ridgewood Elementary School.
The call was initially taken by the local County Sheriff's Office. It was eventually forwarded to the local county HAZMAT team, Missouri Department of Natural Resources and finally, the Environmental Protection Agency.
The cylinders were 180 pound bottles in good condition. Approximately 60 pounds of product could be contained in each cylinder. Two cylinders had product in them and two were reported to be empty. They cylinders were labeled as the property of "Air Products Electronics".
Emergency numbers for Air Products were listed on the labels attached to the cylinders. Individuals at Air Products referred calls to an affiliate of theirs named AirGas.
Eventually, during the evening of March 3, a representative of AirGas arrived on-scene and reclaimed the cylinders.
No further action is anticipated to occur regarding this site as a voluntary clean-up was completed.
