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At approximately 12:30am on May 10, 2007, MassDEP responder Craig Givens reported a release to the NRC of anhydrous ammonia coming from the C&S Wholesale Grocers, a food distribution warehouse, located in Hatfield, MA. An odor of ammonia was detected outside of the warehouse by an employee at approximately 6:30 pm and an evacuation of the warehouse was ordered as a precaution. Some employees felt ill from inhalation of the ammonia, causing 14 employees to be sent to the hospital for observation. All 14 employees were released from the hospital last night. Four homes within the vicinity of the warehouse were evacuated as a precaution.
Givens stated that the local hazmat team, as well as the Hatfield, Amherst and North Hampton fire depts, were on scene attempting to identify the source of the release. As the source was still uncertain, EPA assistance was requested for air monitoring support to determine the source of the release. OSC Lipson was dispatched to the scene at approxiately 12:45am. OSC Young dispatched 2 START contractors with an ammomia sensor Multiwarn and Draeger tubes for air monitoring.
At approximately 1:20 am, Givens called OSC Young stating that local responders had identified the source of the release as a pump within the warehouse which had malfunctioned. Givens stated that since the release was being secured by local responders, EPA assistance was no longer needed. OSC Young contacted OSC Lipson to inform him that he no longer needed to respond. The response was terminated en route at approximately 1:30am.
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