ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Praxair Distribution Inc. plans to reopen its St. Louis plant, the site of a massive and explosive fire early this summer.
The move announced Thursday surprised some of the residents living in the mostly residential area where the plant sits. But Praxair President Wayne Yakich said the company will scale back operations _ storing less flammable gas there and keeping it indoors so that any fire would quickly be put out by a system that dumps 1,200 gallons of water per minute.
The plant has been shut down since the June 24 fire. The blaze was so large it forced closure of nearby Interstate 64 and tossed large tanks hundreds of feet into the air and onto property surrounding the plant. There were no serious injuries.
Yakich estimated damage at $13 million, which includes cleanup costs and payment for damage to neighboring properties as well as to Praxair equipment. He hopes to have a building permit from the city within a few days. After that, it will take 4-6 weeks to get the site ready to be reopened.
Praxair's property sits next to the Lafayette Square neighborhood. The company transfers industrial gases such as propane and liquid oxygen from large storage tanks into cylinders for customers.
Praxair hopes to eventually move to a new site in or near St. Louis, away from residential areas. Once selected, Yakich estimates it will take 18 months to open the new facility.
''We're trying to be a good neighbor,'' Yakich said.
But Ed Rhode, a spokesman for Mayor Francis Slay, said the city got short notice of Praxair's news briefing.
''They haven't formally presented plans to city government,'' Rhode said. ''They're not going to get a permit until we see plans. And the mayor has made it very clear: The city will not support the resumption of any operations until the surrounding neighborhood is comfortable.''
Lafayette Square resident April Breeden opposes the return of Praxair.
''Our community already had to go through the risk, the trauma and the damage to our homes and sense of safety,'' she said.
Yakich said he was looking at 10 to 20 properties that could be suitable for the business. Some are in the city, others are in adjoining counties, he said. Praxair wants some kind of tax assistance to make the move.
Praxair sent residents copies of a letter, which should arrive today, explaining its plans and the cause of the fire.
''We know that we can run a safe and efficient operation to serve our valued St. Louis customers,'' the letter says.
Yakich said the company would meet with residents at a neighborhood meeting Oct. 11, if not sooner.
Praxair blamed the fire on a faulty valve on a gas cylinder. A surveillance camera showed the fire started in an area where returned propylene or propane cylinders were stored. The culprit is believed to be a cylinder shown venting with high energy.
The source of ignition could have been static electricity caused when the valve released the gas, Yakich said. Praxair recalled 14,000 propylene cylinders from its North America plants within three days of the St. Louis fire, and found 8,000 cylinders with the same type of valves that Praxair presumes are faulty.
Yakich identified the company that makes the valves as Sherwood Inc. of Washington, Pa. Sherwood has issued a recall on the valves.
St. Louis police bombing and arson squad detectives agreed that a faulty valve could be the cause but that the cause may never be determined for certain.
Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Copyright 2005 Associated Press
