Link to story

http://www.humanitarian.net/challenges.html

Information Added: Friday, January 7, 2000 - 12:43 AM -----

A corrosive chemical spilled into the Gulf of Mexico from a broken pipeline and crews Thursday (1/6/2000) were trying to clean up the spill.

An unknown quantity of caustic soda, or lye, flowed from the pipeline at the Alcoa plant in South Texas.

Alcoa officials planned to release a statement later on the spill.

A Coach Guard officer noticed a white substance forming in the waterway Wednesday and the pipeline break was traced to the plant.

No injuries are reported. The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission is monitoring the site, amid environmental concerns.

Crews are using vacuum trucks to clean up the mess from the area that includes a ditch outside the Alcoa plant.

Caustic soda, or sodium hydroxide, may cause severe lung damage along with burns to the skin, eyes and mucous membranes. It is used in natural gas and petroleum processing and refining, production of detergents and paper and manufacture of other chemicals.

Point Comfort is about 35 miles southeast of Victoria.

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), January 07, 2000

Answers

maybe these happen every day. maybe they don't. but i can guarantee you one thing -- after they investigate and determine the cause of the spill -- they will SAY "this is not Y2K-related". famous last words we should be hearing for at least six months.

-- tt (cuddluppy@aol.com), January 07, 2000.

Wasn't it refreshing to read the comments coming out of China where they admit to having a y2k problem? Pam

-- Pam (jpjgood@penn.com), January 07, 2000.