Spills · chemical

A check valve between an accumulator tank and a feeder pump at ketchikan pulp corporation blew out on the…

Ketchikan Pulp Corporation; Ketchikan, Alaska · Ketchikan, Alaska · NOAAORR-6679

issued
1989-03-14 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1989-03-28 00:00Z
self-cancels
1989-03-28 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
The Coastal Waters of Southeast Alaska and British Columbia
position
55.417, -131.700
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Ketchikan Pulp Corporation; Ketchikan, Alaska.
Ketchikan, Alaska.
1. A check valve between an accumulator tank and a feeder pump at Ketchikan Pulp Corporation blew out on the evening of March 13, 1989, releasing 40,000 gallons of liquified magnesium bisulfite. Magnesium bisulfite is an unstable chemical that disassociates into free sulfur dioxide (approximately 13%) and an unknown quantity of magnesium oxide and other sulfur oxides. The sulfur dioxide was immediately released as a vapor cloud and the remaining chemical in solution ran into Ward Cove. USCG district 17.
2. THREAT: CHEMICAL. COMMODITY: LIQUIFIED MAGNESIUM BISULFITE. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 40000 GALLONS.
3. POSITION 55.417N 131.700W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6679: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6679

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