Agencies Coordinate Cleanup and Air Monitoring After Deadly West Virginia Chemical Plant Incident

State, local and federal agencies are coordinating a sampling and removal plan for hazardous materials remaining at the Ames Goldsmith Catalyst Refiners facility in Institute, West Virginia, following a deadly chemical release on April 22. As of April 29, twelve air monitors placed around the site and surrounding areas had detected no offsite hydrogen sulfide, and officials said the results indicate no threat to public health and safety. The April 22 incident killed two workers and sent more than 30 people for medical evaluation or treatment, including emergency responders.

The Details

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. EPA Region 3 are among the agencies now overseeing the coordinated response at the Catalyst Refiners plant, according to WSAZ and WVDEP update reporting. Officials described the goal of the removal operation as ensuring remaining materials are "properly characterized and moved offsite," in language attributed to WVDEP and EPA.

Twelve air monitors deployed around the facility and nearby communities had not detected any offsite hydrogen sulfide as of April 29, agencies said. Officials stated that monitoring data showed no threat to public health and safety, according to WSAZ.

The April 22 emergency occurred during cleaning and decontamination work connected to the plant's planned closure, according to NBC News and the Associated Press. Kanawha County officials said nitric acid and a chemical identified as M2000A reacted during that work, producing hydrogen sulfide gas. Two workers died in the incident, and more than 30 people — including emergency responders — were transported for medical evaluation or treatment, NBC News and AP reported.

The cause of the reaction remains under investigation. WVDEP, EPA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board are all involved in cleanup support or the ongoing investigation, according to WBOY and WSAZ reporting.

Steve Owens, chair of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, described the scope of the federal inquiry in a statement cited by WBOY: "We are at the very beginning of this investigation, and we have a great deal of information and evidence to collect."

Context

Catalyst Refiners is owned by Ames Goldsmith, and the Nitro-area facility had been scheduled to close in June, according to MetroNews. The fatal incident occurred during decommissioning work ahead of that planned shutdown.

On the day of the April 22 release, a one-mile shelter-in-place order was issued for nearby areas, including West Virginia State University, according to NBC News and WCHS. That order was lifted later the same day.

Officials have not publicly identified the two workers who died in the incident, according to NBC News and MetroNews reporting reviewed by Zero Signal.

What's Next

WVDEP and EPA Region 3 have outlined a sampling and removal plan for remaining chemical materials at the site. Agencies said the goal is to have those materials properly characterized and moved offsite, though no specific timeline for completion has been announced in the source material reviewed.

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board and OSHA investigations are in early stages, with CSB chair Steve Owens indicating that a substantial collection of information and evidence lies ahead. No final cause determination has been released by authorities as of the research timestamp.