Site of chemical leak offering compensation, set to reopen
In a letter sent to the residents of Zaleski, a small Vinton County village located about three miles from the plant, Austin Power said it has completed 'comprehensive inspections and safety evaluations,' and that it expected to resume operations this week, possibly Monday. Watch a previous report on the leak in the video player above.
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'This will only occur once we receive final clearance from the appropriate regulatory agencies and are fully confident in the safety of the site for both our employees and the surrounding community,' the letter reads.
The company is also offering compensation for those who incurred costs due to the June 11 evacuation.
'If you incurred expenses due to the evacuation – such as hotel stays, gas, or other reasonable costs – we want to make that right,' the letter reads. Those who want to file a claim can reach out to the company by calling 216-839-5469 or email claims@austinpower.com.
The plant, located in McArthur, Ohio, experienced a nitrogen oxide (NO) leak on Wednesday at its Red Diamond Plant when a chemical reaction inside a nitric acid storage tank 'led to the venting of nitrogen oxide gas,' the letter reads.
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'While the nitric acid remained fully contained, we fully recognize the seriousness of what occurred and the inconvenience it caused our neighbors,' the letter reads.
There were no injuries reported to plant employees or to residents, and the water and air in the surrounding area were safe to use.
Symptoms from exposure to nitrogen oxide include skin, eye, and throat irritation. Some drowsiness is possible, according to officials.
The evacuation lasted for approximately six hours, being lifted at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
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According to the Red Diamond facility's website, it manufactures materials for blast powder and dynamite.
According to federal records, the Red Diamond facility was previously fined for numerous Clean Water Act violations and was also the site of a 2009 deadly explosion.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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