Port of Los Angeles Hydrochloric Acid Release; Wilmington, California

Wilmington, California | 1995-Jul-20

Initial Notification: On July 20, 1995, the Wilmington, California Department of Water and Power facility experienced a release of hydrochloric acid from a ruptured 2,700-gallon holding tank. The acid ran into a bermed containment area. The local fire department was on-scene and evacuated about 300 people from a ten-block area. Another tank, holding ammonium fluoride, was in the area and caused some concerns about a reaction if the two chemicals mixed. Vacuum trucks were brought on-scene to remove the hydrochloric acid from the containment area. The second tank remained intact and the incident was closed July 21. USCG district 11. Keyword: none.