Kinder Morgan Sodium Hydroxide Release; Norfolk, VA

Norfolk, VA | 2014-Aug-13

Initial Notification: On August 13, 2014 at 10:30 AM, the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Hampton Road notified the NOAA Office of Response and Restoration about an above ground storage tank failure at the Kinder Morgan Energy Terminal in Norfolk, Virginia. A tank containing approximately 900,000 gallons of 50% solution sodium hydroxide had partially ruptured resulting in the release of approximately 200,000 gallons into a bermed, contained area. USCG has requested information on reactivity if the tank collapses and product comes in direct contact with adjacent storage tanks and pipelines or if it reaches the nearby waterway.