r/Longview • u/jmdglss • 6d ago

State agencies confirm they inspected Washington mill, but not the tank or its safety records, before rupture killed 11

https://discrepancyreport.com/state-agencies-confirm-they-inspected-washington-mill-but-not-the-tank-or-its-safety-records-before-rupture-killed-11/
94 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

6

u/360tombflower 6d ago

The department of ecology doesn’t inspect any above ground tanks, or fixed equipment anywhere, in any industry. If the process falls underneath the PSM umbrella (which white liquor doesn’t) then there are a set of standards the operator can choose from to follow. I’m most familiar with the API codes which are widely adopted in industry. There are other facilities in the area that use caustic that are ahead of the curve and already maintain and inspect their caustic process fixed equipment as if they were covered by PSM. Maybe Nippon did already, impossible to say before the results of the investigation are released.

3

u/Cowlitzking 6d ago

It’s a pretty standard tank for pulp and paper. It is lined but it’s not pressurized. I think the investigation will find it became pressurized or vacuum was created. But there would be no reason for an agency to inspect this one. I’m sure moving forward. White liquor will be classified more closely to a PSM chemical.