FROM THE CIRC:

30 Sent to Hospital When Ammonia Line Breaks at Frozen Food Plant Location Date of Incident Grand Chute, WI, United States 1/12/2000- 10:00 AM CSB Incident Number NRC Report Number Board Ref. Number 2000-4583 None Reported None Reported Current Status Date of Report Update No CSB Action 1/12/2000 - 2:19 PM Incident Types Location Types - Release to Environment Fixed Facility Evacuations Injuries Fatalities None Reported None Reported None Reported Chemicals Involved - Ammonia (anhydrous) Description or Latest Development ----- Information Added: Wednesday, January 12, 2000 - 2:24 PM ----- About 50 employees were working in the area where the ammonia line broke at Anchor Food Products, Inc.

Five people were reported to have suffered injuries, but another 25 to 30 people were sent to local hospitals to be evaluated for the effects of ammonia.

Assistant Fire Chief Richard Trilling said the injuries to the five were respiratory and are not life-threatening.

A woman who answered the phone at the company but declined to be identified said the release had been contained, and that although there had been a report of an explosion, one had not taken place.

AND

Ammonia Line Leaks as Explosion and Fire Follow at Food Plant; Two Injured Location Date of Incident Canton Township, MI, United States 1/12/2000- 6:55 AM CSB Incident Number NRC Report Number Board Ref. Number 2000-4582 None Reported None Reported Current Status Date of Report Update No CSB Action 1/12/2000 - 2:10 PM Incident Types Location Types - Explosion - Fire - Release to Environment Fixed Facility Evacuations Injuries Fatalities None Reported 2 None Chemicals Involved - Ammonia (anhydrous) Description or Latest Development ----- Information Added: Wednesday, January 12, 2000 - 2:19 PM ----- The ammonia leak at Norquick Distributing Company's food processing plant was followed by an explosion and fire this morning, injuring two workers.

Firefighters responded to a report of an ammonia leak, and while they were on scene an explosion and fire occurred.

The blast happened at about 8 a.m., a little over an hour after emergency crews arrived.

The injuries to the workers were reported to be minor. The fire was brought under control at about 8:30 a.m. after firefighters used a ladder truck to pour water on the building.

-- tt (cuddluppy@aol.com), January 12, 2000

Answers

Freaky!! Y2K is hitting us hard!!

-- (martek@vendret.org), January 12, 2000.

I know Nothing bad ever happened before 1/1/00!

-- Reason (ono@were.doomed), January 12, 2000.

Yep.. that makes 3: there was an anhydrous amonia leak in Florida last week.

-- Squirrel Hunter (nuts@upina.tree), January 12, 2000.