Freedom verifies two chemicals (Crude MCHM, PPH) in tank

Freedom Industries told the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection today that the tank that leaked materials into the Elk River from the company's Ettowah Terminal on Jan. 9 contained two chemicals Crude MCHM and PPH.

Freedom was responding to an Order issued by the WVDEP this morning demanding that the company, by this afternoon, disclose all materials spilled during a release from Storage Tank 396 at its Elk River facility. The spill shut down the water supply for close to 300,000 West Virginia residents.

The WVDEP Order arose from Freedom's disclosure to the WVDEP on Jan. 21 that another chemical (PPH), in addition to Crude MCHM, was contained in the above-ground storage tank that leaked materials into the Elk River.

"PPH is added to the Crude MCHM to act as an extender' in that the Crude MCHM is available in limited, sporadic quantities," Freedom said in its response letter to the WVDEP. "At the time of the release on Jan. 9, the blend in Tank No. 396, after extensive calculation, was approximately 88.5 percent Crude MCHM, and 7.3 percent PPH by weight and 4.2 percent water by weight. Our records and internal investigations indicate that there were no other materials in Tank 396 at the time of the release."

Freedom's letter was signed by Freedom President Gary Southern.

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Freedom verifies two chemicals (Crude MCHM, PPH) in tank