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SITE OF the Silver Eagle refinery blast.
Chemical Safety Board Chairman John Bresland shared her story Tuesday, saying that of all the documents the agency has gathered on the Nov. 4 explosion, “none is more poignant,” than Anna’s.
Bresland told members of the media Anna lives across from Silver Eagle, on the east side of the refinery.
“A week or two prior to Nov. 4, she wrote in a school assignment, “I’m scared that the refinery behind my house might blow up again. And my whole neighborhood will have to evacuate again,’” Bresland said. She was referring to the evacuation of her neighborhood due to the January explosion at Silver Eagle.
“Her fears, of course, were prophetic,” Bresland said. “A few days after the explosion she wrote another school paper. It begins: ‘I was at school and the Silver Eagle refinery behind my house exploded. Now my house is a mess! I was really, really scared when I got home because everyone from our neighborhood was at my house.’”
He didn’t share the entire essay, but said, “families and neighbors deserve better than this. Refineries and other process plants can be operated in a safe manner, without major process accidents that impact surrounding communities.”
Bresland and CSB investigations supervisor Don Holmstrom briefed the media on the agency’s investigation into the Nov. 4 explosion at Silver Eagle which damaged up to 100 homes, leaving two uninhabitable.
Preliminary findings by the agency indicate “the refinery experienced a catastrophic failure of a 10-inch pipe off the bottom of a reactor,” according to Holmstrom.
At the time, he said, the unit was undergoing an operation to regenerate the catalyst, which involved circulating high-pressured hydrogen gas inside the piping at a temperature of 800 degrees and a pressure of 630 pounds per square inch.
Holmstrom said there was a release, and almost instantaneously the gas ignited.
While airing a video of the blast, Holmstrom said four workers near the process unit at the time of the explosion were blown to the ground but not seriously injured. Another worker had been taking readings next to to the pipe that failed just a minute or two before the release.
In addition, he said, a FrontRunner train passed through the area moments after the blast. “It’s a miracle (the blast) didn’t result in much more serious consequences,” he said. “Clearly, this explosion had the potential to cause deaths or serious injuries had it occurred even a few moments earlier or later in the day.”
Bresland said he was struck by the seriousness of the damage and impressed by the resilience of the community. “But as neighbors have also clearly told us, their peace of mind will not be so easily repaired as their belongings.”
CSB investigators, the city and residents all praised Silver Eagle for its willingness to shut down last Friday and address the repairs.
The closure is for an indefinite time period. Silver Eagle management, to its credit, responded rapidly and positively to CSB’s request to close the facility, Bresland noted.
“This decision will obviously cost Silver Eagle some revenue in the short run, but I believe it is the right action to protect the long-term interests of the company, its workforce, and the community which gives it license to operate,” Bresland said.
Late Tuesday afternoon, Silver Eagle released a statement saying they wanted to reemphasize that they are sorry that the incident on Nov. 4 occurred.
They said they recognize it has been a trauma to many people. “We are grateful that no one — refinery workers or neighbors — was injured.”
The statement went on to say it is working with the CSB and OSHA on the investigation, and with residents in the area. They also said they will evaluate lessons learned and implement any improvements that need to be made.
mwilliams@davisclipper.com
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