Vinton County explosives plant resumes normal operations after gas release
A Vinton County explosives manufacturer has resumed normal operations after a nitrogen oxide release at one of its plants resulted evacuations and flight restrictions in the area.
Austin Powder paused operations at its Red Diamond plant on June 11 after a reaction in a nitric acid tank caused a yellow-brown nitrogen oxide plume over the facility northwest of McArthur.
The gas release necessitated evacuations of the surrounding area, including the village of Zaleski, which has a population of about 780 people.
More: Chemical leak at Vinton County plant prompted evacuation: What we know
Temporary flight restrictions also were put in place for a 30-nautical-mile radius around the plant.
'We sincerely regret the disruption and concern the evacuation order caused our neighbors and the surrounding community," Austin Powder president and CEO John Rathbun said in a press release.
"Our safety systems worked as designed, and our team responded swiftly to protect the community."
A "modest amount" of the gas vented through the plant's built-in safety system, according to Brad Kostka, a spokesperson for the public relations firm hired by Austin Powder.
Kostka said testing of air, water and the work site revealed no health hazards to the community.
Austin Powder has launched an internal investigation and will implement any necessary improvements to prevent a recurrence.
The company has established a claim process to reimburse affected Vinton County residents for "reasonable expenses" — such as hotel stays and gas — resulting from the evacuation.
Residents can contact Austin Powder at 216-839-5469 or claims@austinpowder.com to submit a claim for reimbursement.
Entertainment and Things to Do reporter Belinda M. Paschal can be reached at bpaschal@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Austin Powder's explosives plant operating normally after gas release
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chocolate company recalls product nationwide for undeclared allergen
NEW YORK (PIX11) — Chocolate products have been recalled nationwide due to potential undeclared milk allergens, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Pennsylvania-based distributor, Weaver Nut Company, Inc., has recalled its semi-sweet chocolate nonpareils with white or Christmas colored seeds, the advisory from the FDA says. More Local News People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk could face serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume the impacted products, the FDA warns. So far no illnesses have been reported. The issue was discovered through a wholesale customer who filed a complaint saying the shipment was misaligned with the product specifications. Lab tests confirmed the presence of milk in the product. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Consumers who have purchased the recalled product are urged not to eat it if they have a milk allergy and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Below is the list of lot codes for the affected chocolates. 47518 – Nonpareil, Semi-Sweet Chocolate (Christmas Seeds) 204206 204207 204208 204209 204212 224225 D2645 – Nonpareils, Semi-Sweet Chocolate (White Seeds) 204214-RL 204214 204215 224221 224222 224223 135215 135216 135217 135220 135221 145204 145205-1 145207-1 145210-1 Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Bloomberg
24 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Ether Leads Crypto Selloff as US Attacks Nuclear Sites in Iran
Ether fell sharply while Bitcoin held steady after President Donald Trump said American bombers and missiles had struck Iran's three main nuclear sites. The second-ranked token fell as much as 7.7% on Sunday morning in Asia to about $2,200, its lowest intra-day level since May 9. Bitcoin briefly dipped below $101,000 but pared losses to trade relatively evenly in the aftermath of the attacks.
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Workiva Inc. (WK) Appoints Astha Malik to Its Board of Directors
Workiva Inc. (NYSE:WK) is one of the 11 Best Tech Stocks to Buy On the Dip. On May 29, Workiva Inc. (NYSE:WK) announced the appointment of Astha Malik, Chief Business Officer of Braze, to its board of directors. Malik brings 25 years of experience in driving growth and scaling high-growth SaaS companies. The company also released its Q1 2025 results on May 1. The revenue of $206 million grew 17% year-over-year driven by a 20% increase in subscription and support revenue. Both of these financial indicators surpass management's guidance despite a challenging environment characterized by a cautious buying environment and flat professional services revenue. A software engineer debugging a compliance code on a laptop in a modern office setting. After the earnings release, analyst Alexander Sklar from Raymond James maintained an Overweight rating on Workiva Inc. (NYSE:WK) lowering the price target from $125 to $105. The analyst noted the company showed strong bookings in Q1 however, the tough macroeconomic environment led to a conservative outlook by Raymond James. Regardless, Workiva Inc. (NYSE:WK) maintained its full-year revenue guidance at $864 million to $868 million. Workiva Inc. (NYSE:WK) is a technology company that operates a cloud-based platform that enables organizations to streamline and automate financial, sustainability, and compliance reporting processes. Its SaaS platform combines ERP, HCM, and CRM applications, supporting real-time collaboration and integrated reporting across teams. While we acknowledge the potential of WK as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Melden Sie sich an, um Ihr Portfolio aufzurufen.
