Caustic Soda Spill; Arthur Kill, NJ

Arthur Kill, NJ | 2004-Oct-30

Initial Notification: At approximately 1300 hours on Saturday, October 30, 2004, Kinder Morgan Energy, experienced an above ground storage tank failure at its terminal in Carteret, New Jersey resulting in a release of 460,000 gallons of 50% sodium hydroxide. The storage tank's capacity was 500,000 gallons. An unknown amount of product entered the Arthur Kill waterway that separates New Jersey and Staten Island, New York. An unknown amount was contained within the tank's dike system and the facility's storm water containment system. In addition, as a result of the tank failure a second tank sustained damage and also leaked an unknown amount of sodium hydroxide but this leak has been contained. Three individuals were suffered burns. Two were treated and released, third is being held in the hospital for further observations. The RP in cooperation with the USCG are in the process of determining how much product entered the Arthur Kill. Cause of the incident is under investigation. Sodium hydroxide solution is a liquid caustic soda. It is a colorless solution that contains components that are corrosive, and can be damaging to human health and the environment. At 50% solution, the product has a specific gravity of 1.53 and a density of 12.76. Sodium hydroxide solution can substantially raise the pH of an aquatic environment and can be extremely toxic to fish and aquatic plants.