Southwest Ohio has seen a number of emergency incidents in recent years related to the chemical:
March 2013: A tractor-trailer truck struck an anhydrous ammonia storage tank on Upper Valley Pike in West Liberty, causing a small hazardous chemical leak. The chemicals dissipated and didn't require further cleanup.
October, 2011: One pound of anhydrous ammonia leaked at AK Steel Corporation in Middletown because of equipment failure. One person was injured.
December 2008: An anhydrous ammonia leak shut down part of Lower Valley Pike in Bethel Twp. for several hours. Investigators suspected the leak was related to the attempted theft of the farm fertilizer, which can be used in the production of methamphetamine.
October, 2008: Attempted theft of anhydrous ammonia at Trupointe Cooperative Inc. in Medway led to the release of 1,442 pounds of gas. No one was injured.
June, 2008: 390 pounds of anhydrous ammonia leaked from a valve at BEF Foods in Xenia due to equipment failure. There were no injuries.
December 2006: More than 100 homes in South Charleston were evacuated after an anhydrous ammonia leak at South Landmark Inc., 11888 Ohio 41. Employees were transferring the chemicals from a 30,000-gallon tank when a hose popped off, causing the leak.
October 2006: Nine people in West Chester Twp. were treated after several hundred pounds of anhydrous ammonia leaked from a refrigeration system at U.S. Food Service at Industrial Boulevard and Spellmire Drive. The people were either treated at the scene or taken to the hospital for exposure to the chemical.
February 2004: Nearly 400 residents of Pleasant Plain were evacuated after about 850 gallons of anhydrous ammonia leaked from a 1,000-gallon tank at the Southwest Landmark fertilizer plant. Thieves attempting to steal the farm chemical to make methamphetamine caused the link, officials said.
January 2003: The Reibold Building in downtown Dayton was evacuated after a 20-pound tank of ammonia in the sixth-floor Montgomery County Records Center exploded. Four people overcome by fumes were treated at the scene.
January 2002: A potentially explosive ammonia leak at the Aldi distribution center in the Prime Ohio industrial park in Springfield caused part of the operation to be shut down while emergency responders ventilated the center.
June 2001: A tanker spill at the Harvest Land Co-op near West Milton created a two-mile plume of poisonous anhydrous ammonia in Ludlow Creek, which feeds the Stillwater River. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency officials closed the West Milton water plant to protect the water in the village's emergency towers. The chemical discharge killed more than 103,300 fish, according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
June 1995: Customers were evacuated from restaurants and stores around the Sugarcreek Plaza after a 1,000-gallon tank of anhydrous ammonia started spewing toxic fumes. The tank, sitting in an empty field in Washington Twp., was struck by lightning, according to witness reports.
About the Author