Huntington, West Virginia Residents Again Forced From Homes Following Chemical Spill

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) -- About 35 families remained out of their homes Monday as crews continued to clear the remnants of 22,000 gallons of a hazardous oil that leaked last week from a railroad tanker.

About 30 families who had returned to their Huntington homes after Thursday's spill of coal tar light oil were again forced to leave Sunday evening after increases in temperature and humidity raised the level of potentially dangerous chemicals in the air, said Deputy Chief Jerry Beckett of the Huntington Fire Department.

Another 34 families had been out of their homes since Thursday, he said. Vinson Middle and Kellogg Elementary schools remained closed Monday.

The 35 homes that remained off limits to residents on Monday were adjacent to the site of the spill, the fire department said.

Emergency officials said they did not know when those families would be allowed to return their homes.

``We hope the public is patient with us as we know this is terribly inconvenient for them, but were doing this for their safety,'' Beckett said. ``We will not let them back in until we are positive they are safe.''

The spill occurred at TechSol Chemical Co. as workers were about to transfer coal tar distillates containing toluene, benzene, xylene and styrene to a tanker for shipment to a Marathon Ashland Petroleum Refinery near Catlettsburg, Ky. A valve was apparently defective, a TechSol employee said.

The oil leaked into Krauts Creek and a sewer system, prompting initial fears that the concentrated vapors could explode. By mid-Friday morning, emergency crews had removed about 42,000 gallons of contaminated material and were no longer concerned about an explosion.

The state's Regional Response Team was concerned about air quality in at least two areas _ the site of the spill and a spot along the creek.

Team officials said that by late Friday, at least 80 percent of the affected area had tested free of benzene, which can cause dizziness, drowsiness and unconsciousness when inhaled. But once the temperatures rose Sunday, the chemical levels increased.

About 500 homes, several businesses and at least one school within a 2-mile radius of TechSol in the Wayne County section of the city were evacuated Thursday.

``We slept at my mother-in-law's _ I slept in a recliner, and my husband slept on the couch,'' said resident Karen Dempsey. ``We had to leave the dogs here, and they wouldn't let me in to feed them. All I could do was (sneak) in and feed them and give them water.''

Marathon has brought in workers to help clean up the spill, Beckett said. Cleanup efforts have been hampered because the substance sticks to leaves and debris in the creek.

Michael Tatum, training coordinator for Cabell County 911, said Marathon was putting up dislocated residents in a Huntington hotel. Other residents forced from their homes have been staying with relatives or friends.