http://www.wral.com/news/10104079/detai ... 0210182006

State Shuts Down Apex EQ Plant

POSTED: 12:21 pm EDT October 18, 2006
UPDATED: 4:50 pm EDT October 18, 2006

APEX, N.C. -- The North Carolina Department of Labor on Wednesday ordered a hazardous waste facility in Apex to shut down indefinitely, hours after emergency responders evacuated nearby businesses because of a small fire on the site.

Apex Mayor Keith Weatherly said the order from state regulators means the cleanup effort at the Environmental Quality Industrial Services facility following a chemical fire two weeks ago will be halted indefinitely.

Shortly after noon Wednesday, a white plume of smoke could be seen above the remains of the EQ facility. There were also reports of a pungent odor in the air.

Apex Police Capt. Ann Stephens told WRAL that the explosion started a small fire in a 55-gallon barrel that cleanup crews were working with, but that the fire had been contained.

"All indications are that it will be localized to that one drum of material," Weatherly said.

Weatherly said authorities believe the barrel was filled with sodium or magnesium material that can combust when it is exposed to water or air.

There was some speculation that rain from Tuesday might have gotten into the barrel, Weatherly said, but the exact cause of the fire was not immediately known. Officials were trying to put a retardant on the fire to help extinguish it.

No workers were near the barrel at the time, and no injuries were reported, EQ officials said in a statement.

Although the fire was contained, emergency officials evacuated businesses on Investment Boulevard as a precaution and blocked off a small area of the road while emergency officials responded.

The EQ facility caught fire on Oct. 5 and forced nearly 17,000 Apex residents from their homes in the middle of the night because of concerns of toxic fumes. A few dozen people had to seek medical attention. The cause of that fire is still unknown.

At an Apex Town Hall meeting Tuesday evening, an EQ representative said the company is focusing on the cleanup and has not made a decision about rebuilding.

Apex town leaders have said they do not want the facility to rebuild and the town's attorney said current zoning would not allow the facility reopen.

"We cannot tolerate the continued operation of a hazardous-waste storage facility in Apex," Weatherly said at the meeting. "Let me just say our concern -- and the point we will not forget -- is that EQ has exposed our citizens to an unprecedented level of danger."
Copyright 2006 by WRAL.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.