National Academy of Sciences to hold public hearing on plant safety

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The National Academy of Sciences will hold a public hearing at West Virginia State University this Saturday to discuss a recent study that found chemical plants can do more to reduce the potential for toxic disasters, The Charleston Gazette reported.

Several authors of the May report are expected to attend and present their findings.

The report found that Bayer CropScience sought to reduce risks associated with the manufacturing and storage of the toxic chemical methyl isocyanate (MIC) at its processing plant in Institute, W.Va., but did not make an effort to incorporate all possible hazard control methods.

The committee that wrote the report recommended that the U.S. Chemical Safety Board or another entity develop a framework to help managers at chemical plants choose among alternative processing options — considering factors such as safety, environmental impact and product yield — to develop a safer chemical manufacturing system.