MARTINEZ, Calif., June 22, 1992 (GP) -- Monday's tragic explosion and chemical fire at the Rhone-Poulenc Basic Chemicals Facility here brought renewed demands from environmentalists that the company halt its plans to build a hazardous waste incinerator at the site.

Greenpeace and Communities for a Safe Environment, two groups who have been fighting the incinerator proposal, released a list of previous accidents at other plants operated by Stauffer Chemical/ICI Inc., which are now owned by Rhone-Poulenc. (See page 2.) The record shows that between 1980 and 1986 alone, more than 100 workers and local residents were injured by leaks, spills, explosions or fires at Stauffer/ICI facilities.

"This disaster is yet one more example of what can happen when an irresponsible corporation subjects a community to the hazards of playing with fire," said Bradley Angel, a Greenpeace toxics campaigner. "Today's explosion should serve as a tragic wake-up call to local and state officials to cancel Rhone-Poulenc's application for an incinerator now."

Martinez emergency officials said a fire apparently broke out at the facility, which reprocesses sulfuric acid, just after 9 a.m., and was followed by a large explosion about 11:30 a.m. Two plant workers were hospitalized in critical condition, and emergency crews evacuated the neighborhood around the facility.

Rhone-Poulenc was seeking a permit to build a hazardous waste incinerator to burn hundreds of toxic chemicals at the site. A public hearing on the permit was scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, but was cancelled by Martinez officials because of Rhone-Poulenc's failure to meet state requirements for a public review process. Rhone-Poulenc was continuing to seek state and federal approval of the permit.

"We can only shudder at how much worse it could have been if Rhone-Poulenc was burning hundreds of other chemicals in our back yard," said Cathy Ivers of the Martinez-based Citizens for a Safe Environment.

Partial List of Accidents at Stauffer Chemical or ICI Plants

1980: Sulfuric acid leak, Stauffer Chemical, Houston; 54 injuries

4/24/80: Toxic vapor release, ICI, Bayonne, N.J.; 5 injuries

1983: Gasoline fire, ICI, Cleveland, U.K.; 8 injuries

12/23/83: Chlorine leak, Stauffer, St. Gabriel, La.; 12 injuries

11/8/84: Chlorine leak/fire, Stauffer, Axis, Ala.; 1 injury

5/5/85: sulfuric acid leak, Stauffer, Baton Rouge, La.; 1 injury

1/31/86: liquid ammonium leak, ICI, Bellingham, U.K.; 2 injuries

2/11/86: bromine gas leak, ICI, Grangemouth, U.K.; 3 injuries

4/18/86: Liquid insecticide leak, ICI, Yalding, U.K.; 4 injuries

10/86: Nitrous oxide leak, ICI, Bellingham; 1 death, 16 injuries

12/5/86: Chlorine leak, Stauffer, St. Gabriel; 1 injury.

CONTACT:
Cathy Ivers, Citizens for a Safe Environment 510/372-0578
Bradley Angel or Bill Walker, Greenpeace San Francisco 415/512-9025