Acid Leak Closes Collection Station

Sun., June 23, 1996

From Staff And Wire Reports

A Spokane Valley garbage collection site was closed for several hours Saturday after workers discovered what fire authorities believed to be a chromic acid leak.

At least two workers at the Valley Transfer Station, 3941 N. Sullivan, reported seeing smoke and complained of irritated throats after a worker on a tractor apparently hit a container while pushing piles of garbage, said Carl Bold, assistant Valley fire chief.

About 20 firefighters and a hazardous materials crew were called out to the scene at about 9:17 a.m. and had cleaned out the mess three hours later.

A truck driver who works at the transfer station said he had to turn away at least a hundred customers in the few hours following the spill.

Bold said the accident didn’t have to happen - the station accepts hazardous waste free of charge.

About a dozen workers were at the station at the time of the spill. No one was seriously injured.

, DataTimes

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