At approximately 9:40 p.m. on the evening of June 29, 2010, an ignition
source in a solvent sludge feed tank ignited flammable solvent vapor.
The vapor was in the head space of a partially filled atmospheric tank,
either tank Q and/or tank R in the E-II solvent sludge feed tank area.
The explosion flame front spread to the adjacent tank, and as a result,
both tank covers were removed by the force of the event. The tank cover
for tank Q was peeled back to the east but still partially attached. The
tank cover for tank R was jettisoned; it struck the E-II processing
building to the northwest in several locations before landing on the
roof of the Dock 4/5 building to the east. The subsequent tank fires
resulting from the explosion were extinguished by the local fire
department. The likely ignition source was determined to be ultrasonic
high-level sensors within the solvent sludge feed tanks. Apparently they
had separated due to solvent degradation, exposing internal wiring.
There were no injuries or fatalities.
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