(The Associated Press circulated the following article on August 31.)
CINCINNATI, Ohio — Residents ordered to leave their homes because of a chemical leak from a railroad tanker were allowed to return Wednesday.
The evacuation of homes and businesses within one mile of the tanker was ordered Monday, affecting about 800 properties.
The tanker was leaking a plume of styrene vapor. Styrene, which is used to make plastics, synthetic rubber and resins, is a highly flammable liquid that is hazardous to breathe in gaseous form.
Dave Collini, a district fire chief, said heat sensors attached to the tanker on Tuesday showed the temperature of the contents had dropped significantly, and that no more vapor was escaping from the tanker.
Mayor Charlie Luken and other officials have questioned why the rail car was left on a railroad siding for several months unchecked.
A representative for Texas-based Westlake Chemical, which owns the tanker, said the car arrived in Cincinnati sometime in January.
”Beyond that, I can’t verify what happened,” said David Hansen, company vice president and chief administrative officer.