Breaking News — Chemical leak temporarily shuts down area around Fieldsboro plant

Rail and boat traffic temporarily halted; no injuries reported

By: Vanessa S. Holt
   FIELDSBORO — A sulfuric acid vapor leak at the Stepan Co. on Fourth Street in Fieldsboro temporarily shut down rail and marine traffic today but did not result in any injuries at the plant, said state police and company officials.
   State police said at around 11:20 a.m. a pressure release valve on a truck malfunctioned and opened, releasing the vapor into the air. The rail yard at the company, where materials are transported in and out of the plant, was temporarily evacuated, said police.
   The Trenton-Camden River Line temporarily suspended operation and the State Police Marine Bureau halted boat traffic in the area as a precaution, said state police.
   There were no reported injuries and no evacuations of residents in the area, said state police. Police from the Bordentown state police station and hazardous materials unit responded, along with local fire companies.
   Rob Mangold, vice president of North American Operations at Stepan’s headquarters in Northfield, Ill., said the accident occurred when the material was being transported from one area of the plant to another. The sulfuric material was accidentally released when the release valve malfunctioned, he said.
   "The situation is under control," said Mr. Mangold just before 1 p.m. on Thursday. "The River Line was shut down as a precautionary measure and local responders cooled down the truck. No one was hurt and it is basically cleaned," he said.
   Mr. Mangold said an accident like this has not previously occurred at the plant, in his memory. "We’re investigating to make sure it doesn’t happen again," he said.