Occidental Chemical; Muscle Shoals, Alabama

Muscle Shoals, Alabama | 1996-Sep-06

Initial Notification: Latitude: 34 degrees, 47.5 minutes, N - Longitude:087 degrees, 37.3 minutes, W - Caustic potash solution, potassium hydroxide. Concentration unknown at this point. - 50,000 to 100,000 gallons - Occidental Chemical Facility - Incident Summary:Occidental Chemical in Muscle Shoals, Alabama spilled approximately 50,000 gallons of potassium hydroxide at 0530 CDT on September 6, 1996. A pump was accidentally left on and a storage tank overflowed into the facilities secondary containment. The containment overflowed and approximately 50,000 spilled into the Tennessee River at mile 259.5. The secondary containment gave way and additional potassium hydroxide leaked into the river. Maximum spill is expected to be 100,000 gallons. The RP worked to dike/restore the secondary containment to stem the flow of the product into the river. A fish kill was observed shortly after the spill. USCG district 8. Keyword: endangered species, RIDS, Cameo.