Report Faults Firm’s Storage of Rocket Fuel
HENDERSON, Nev. — Fire officials are questioning safety standards used in storing a volatile rocket fuel oxidizer at a Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp. plant here, according to an unreleased Clark County Fire Department report.
The report, obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, cites more than a dozen violations in the storage of ammonium perchlorate and imprudent handling of flammable, toxic chemicals and gases used in its production.
A high-ranking Fire Department source said the department will lobby against renewed production of ammonium perchlorate until Kerr-McGee reduces safety risks, the newspaper reported Friday.
The Kerr-McGee plant in Henderson halted production of ammonium perchlorate May 12 following an explosion a week earlier at nearby Pacific Engineering & Production Co. Kerr-McGee and Pacific Engineering were the only plants in the country producing the oxidizer used in the space shuttle and military rockets.
A safety team said last week it was safe to resume production at Kerr-McGee if certain guidelines were followed.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
