Plant at center of McArthur chemical leak was site of 2009 fatal explosion, faced previous fines
MCARTHUR, Ohio (WCMH) — An explosives plant at the center of a chemical leak on Wednesday was previously fined for numerous Clean Water Act violations and was the site of a deadly explosion in 2009, according to federal records.
The Austin Powder plant was fined $2.3 million in 2022 for a violation of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, a part of the Clean Water Act that requires permits for anybody who discharges pollutants into 'water of the United States.'
Between 2013 and 2022, the company had allegedly discharged hundreds of pollutants in violation of the effluent limitations stated in its permits, and didn't comply with an earlier EPA Administrative Order on Consent to resolve the concerns.
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The company agreed to implement upgrades to the facility's wastewater treatment operations.
'This settlement will prevent tens of thousands of pounds of pollutants from entering Ohio streams and rivers each year,' an EPA official said in a 2022 news release announcing the settlement.
Back in 2009, the plant was the site of an explosion that left one person dead and at least two others injured, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Three employees at the plant had to be flown to a hospital. One employee had burns over 90% of her body and had to have her left leg amputated. Records show the plant was cited for five 'serious' violations, resulting in a $22,750 fine.
In 2023, the plant was fined $5,000 for failing to immediately notify authorities of 2,312 pounds of sulfuric acid.
The plant was also fined $12,640 for not reporting a February 2017 release of 1,817 pounds of nitric acid and 1,335 pounds of sulfuric acid — both over the reportable threshold of 1,000 pounds, according to EPA records.
In 2007, the plant was fined for violating the Toxic Substances Control Act, which requires companies that manufacture, process or distribute certain chemicals to report information on their activities.
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In 2015, there were two workplace accidents, according to OSHA. One resulted in an employee suffering a partial finger amputation while cleaning a machine drive belt and another involved an employee who was hit in the eye with a pressurized line. That employee was wearing safety glasses.
And last year, the plant was cited for a 'serious' violation by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration.
'On or about June 5, 2024, periodic inspections of the energy control procedures for equipment, such as but not limited to the bucket elevator at the mixing plant, was not performed at least annually to ensure the procedures and requirements of the standard were being followed when employees were required to perform service and maintenance activities,' according to OSHA.
In Wednesday's chemical leak, 3,000 gallons of chemicals were released out of a 5,000 gallon tank, according to a spokesperson with the Jackson County Emergency Management Agency.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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