Location - Perma-Fix hazardous waste TSD facility, 18550 Allen Road, Brownstown, MI (20 miles south of Detroit)
At 0545 an explosion destroyed the western side of the Perma-Fix mixing building. A crane operator inside the building at the time of the explosion was treated for hearing loss. The cause is believed to have been hydrogen gas created by the improper treatment of aluminum past with mineral spirts, and water. The Brownstown Fire Department (FD) responded, found the fire to be contained, and closed Allen Road (two business were affected). At 0815 U.S. EPA air monitoring support was requested. U.S. EPA was on site at 0905. U.S. EPA air monitoring found no release of organics, inorganics, or acids. A small reaction in the #2 mixing vessel that contained the aluminum past was continuing. Based on air monitoring U.S. EPA and the Brownstown FD reopened Allen Road, while restricting access to the mixing building. Perma-Fix with U.S. EPA oversight continued 1/2 hour air monitoring until analytical results from a SUMMA showed the reaction to be non-hazardous. The reaction has stopped and Perma-Fix is investigating the incident.
