From the article: "...a tank containing a highly acidic chemical called white liquor..."
White liquor is one of the three main chemical solutions used in this paper-making process. It's a highly alkaline solution, similar to bleach, that will cause severe chemical burns if it comes into contact with skin. Unlike acid, which directly breaks the bonds between molecules, alkaline solutions alter the molecules in organic materials to make them dissolve in water.
Longview plant behind fatal tank implosion has long history of environmental violations
According to the Environmental Protection Agency's online compliance database, the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant has repeatedly run afoul of both the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. As of September 2024, the facility had been out of compliance with the Clean Air Act in four of the previous 12 quarters.
The most recent data shows the Longview facility has been out of compliance with the Clean Water Act every quarter for the past three years, including 8 quarters with significant violations.
https://www.kgw.com/article/news/investigations/longview-paper-mill-tank-environment-violation-enforcement-nippon-dynawave/283-f6c0207e-ad66-4bae-a067-69a780368e82
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