Spills

Delaware city, delaware

Standard Chlorine of Delaware; Delaware City, Delaware · NOAAORR-6322

issued
1986-01-05 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1986-01-19 00:00Z
self-cancels
1986-01-19 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
North Atlantic Ocean
position
39.576, -75.593
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Standard Chlorine of Delaware; Delaware City, Delaware.
Delaware City, Delaware.
1. At 0215 on January 5, 1986, tank no. 404 at the Standard Chlorine of Delaware facility in Delaware City failed explosively, releasing over 562,936 gallons of a dichlorobenzene mother liquor. The explosion damaged other tanks and plumbing in the immediate area and spilled the following chemicals: 319,600 gallons of paradichlorobenzene at approximately 95% purity, 53,968 gallons of trichlorobenzene with some paradichlorobenzene; 81,134 gallons of trichlorobenzene with some paradichlorobenzene; and 108,234 gallons of paradichlorobenzene. The mixtures of trichlorobenzene are reported to be composed of approximately 70% 1,2,4 trichlorobenzene and 20% 1,2,3 trichlorobenzene. The initial wave of paradichlorobenzene was approximately 180 degrees F and flowed east onto the Standard Chlorine facility. This wave, and the following waves of trichlorobenzene and dichlorobenzene, flowed north along [...]
2. COMMODITY: DICHLOROBENZENE MOTHER LIQUOR, PARADICHLOROBENZENE, TRICHLOROBENZENE. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 100000000 GALLONS.
3. POSITION 39.576N 075.593W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6322: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6322

This area · spills & pollution incidents

570 within 180 nm since 1972 · 10 in the last 12 months · 0 in force now

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Timeline · 2 messages since 1985-12-05 · closed 1986-01-19

  1. Philadelphia, delaware river, nj1985-12-05 → 1985-12-19
  2. Delaware city, delaware this message1986-01-05 → 1986-01-19

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Spills

Oil and chemical spills, groundings and vessel casualties with a pollution threat: NOAA IncidentNews responses since 1957, and spill-response areas broadcast as navigational warnings. All current spills & pollution incidents

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