Chemical maker releases statement about spill

HURON TWP. — AkzoNobel recently released a statement regarding a chemical spill in the Huron River that occurred Saturday. "At approximately 2:30 a.m. ET, on Saturday, February 28, an overflow involving a waterborne epoxy-acrylic resin occurred at our Huron, Ohio, manufacturing facility. This resin is a component used in the production of our can coatings, and the finished can coating product is FDA approved. Our containment systems, including basins connected to a containment dyke, successfully captured a majority of the material onsite. Upon identifying the issue, our employees immediately activated emergency response protocols and notified local authorities and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). There were no injuries. We have worked closely with the Ohio EPA throughout their on-site review. The facility remains operational, and we will continue our coordination with regulatory authorities. The safety of our employees, the Huron community and the environment remains our top priority." The amount of product that reached the river was not enough to trigger downstream precautions, according to Tim Jonovich, director of Erie County's Emergency Management Agency. On Saturday morning, once a worker at the plant realized what was happening, they shut off the outflow and alerted Huron firefighters. Also notified of the event were the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.