EPA investigators visit burned Wewoka plant

Friday, July 30th 2004, 5:50 am

By: News On 6

WEWOKA, Okla. (AP) -- The Environmental Protection Agency hasn't determined if a Wewoka chemical plant destroyed by fire broke federal law by failing to report hazardous chemicals.

But a state official says Cochran Chemical should have reported at least three hazardous chemicals to state and local officials.

Monty Elder of the state Department of Environmental Quality says Cochran should have reported it had more than ten-thousand pounds of three different, highly flammable chemicals.

But Ginny Vietti with the EPA says there has been no finding yet as to whether Cochran was required to report hazardous chemicals.

The state Fire Marshal's Office says the July 21st fire was an accident. The fire started when a small amount of chemical spilled as employees poured it into a vat and something ignited the spill.