Overview

On October 5, a hazardous waste storage and treatment plant in Apex, owned by the company Environmental Quality, exploded into flames and sent clouds of chemical-laden smoke into the air. Over 17,000 residents were forced to evacuate and first responders were forced to watch as the plant burned to the ground. Most of the residents in the vicinity did not know that a chemical waste plant was nearby and did not know the potential dangers associated with such a plant.

The explosion was a powerful reminder that, even 6 years after 9/11, we’ve done too little to make our chemical facilities safer.
Unfortunately, North Carolina has 10 more of these plants across with the state, from the Triangle, to Charlotte, to down east, and to the Triad. And like the Apex site, residents and first responders don’t know what types of chemicals are stored at these plants, how much is stored, and what the hazards are.

North Carolina’s residents and first responders need to know what’s inside chemical plants and what the dangers are. This information will facilitate safe and effective decisions in the event of an emergency.