Authorities respond Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, to a leak from a tractor-trailer labeled as carrying a corrosive chemical on Hackett Avenue in Palmer Township. Responders closed Hackett Avenue in the area. (Sue Beyer | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Sue Beyer | For lehighvalleylive.com
Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com
on September 06, 2016 at 8:34 PM, updated September 07, 2016 at 1:31 AM
Responders from Northampton and Lehigh counties cleared a chemical spill Tuesday that resulted from an improperly sealed cap atop a tanker truck, officials said.
It was reported about 4:40 p.m. in the area of Hackett Avenue and Park Road in Palmer Township. Authorities closed that stretch of Hackett Avenue and temporarily evacuated some homes, while asking other nearby residents to remain in their homes, township fire Assistant Chief Jim Alercia said.
Hazardous-materials experts from Lehigh County Special Operations had replaced the cap as of about 7:50 p.m, ending the shelter-in-place order and road closure, he said.
"Any material that had spilled on the roadway evaporated and was no harm to residents," Alercia wrote in a text message to lehighvalleylive.com.
The spill was from a truck labeled as carrying a corrosive substance.
The Schneider tanker was placarded corrosive, with a classification code of 3267. Federal standards for a spill of such liquids call for safety precautions including requiring responders to wear protective breathing apparatus and an isolation zone of at least 150 feet.
Alercia said the liquid was identified as Topguard. A chemical sold by that name is used as a fungicide.
A representative of Schneider said the tanker was carrying "an industrial neutralizer" when it experienced a small leak.
"The situation was quickly brought under control ... ," spokeswoman Erin Elliott said. "Most importantly, no injuries were sustained in this event. We are most grateful for the assistance provided by the local authorities and incident response team."
A mechanic inspected the tanker truck and gave the all-clear for it to be driven back to its original shipping location, Alercia said.
Haz-mat responders in full protective gear went through a decontamination process after replacing the missing cap, the assistant fire chief said.
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Chemical spill prompts evacuations, closes road in Palmer Township (PHOTOS)
Authorities respond Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, to a leak from a tractor-trailer labeled as carrying a corrosive chemical on Hackett Avenue in Palmer Township. Responders closed Hackett Avenue in the area. (Sue Beyer | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Sue Beyer | For lehighvalleylive.com
By Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com
on September 06, 2016 at 5:12 PM, updated September 06, 2016 at 8:37 PM
UPDATE: 'No harm to residents' in Palmer Township chemical spill
A leak from a tractor-trailer hauling a corrosive chemical forced the closure late Tuesday afternoon of a stretch of Hackett Avenue in Palmer Township, a Northampton County 911 dispatch supervisor confirmed.
The incident began about 4:40 p.m. in the area of Hackett Avenue and Park Road. Authorities closed Hackett Avenue to traffic.
Some homes were being temporarily evacuated in the area, township fire Assistant Chief Jim Alercia said.
Residents nearby who were not asked to leave were advised to shelter in place, township police said in an alert on their nixle.com account.
The liquid spilled from an improperly placed cap atop the tanker trailer, Alercia said.
The tanker had been traveling on Greenhill Avenue after the driver got lost and was attempting to turn left onto Hackett Avenue when a passerby noticed the spill, Alercia said.
Authorities identified the chemical as Topguard, Alercia said. A chemical by that brand name is used as a fungicide.
"A small to moderate amount spilled onto the road surface, but appears to have evaporated," Alercia said in a text message.
Outside the scene of what police called a drug-fueled killing, the police chief said it's 'definitely a public health issue.'
The trailer belongs to Schneider. A spokeswoman for the shipping company told lehighvalleylive.com she was checking into the incident.
Township officials called in Lehigh County Special Operations to assist on the incident.
"Once sealed, the trailer will be transported back to the original shipping location," Alercia wrote.
Responders set up a decontamination station along Hackett Avenue for hazardous-materials personnel charged with replacing the cap, the assistant fire chief said.
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