Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Oxygen in residential area OK’d

The Clark County Commission has approved a variance for Apria Healthcare to build a 9,000-gallon liquid oxygen storage tank and filling room in an industrial area south of Tropicana Avenue near Valley View Boulevard.

Wednesday's approval will allow the company to expand its current operations, and have a gas products service and bulk storage facility in a light manufacturing zone. County code requires such facilities to be located in industrial zones where no residences are allowed.

County staff recommended denial because of the size of the storage facility and the safety of adjacent businesses in case oxygen tanks were to rupture.

But fire officials said the risk of explosion is minimal.

County planners also pointed out that the company's oxygen tanks have expanded rapidly in the last four years -- from 1,500 gallons to 6,000 gallons in 1994, and now an additional 3,000 gallons.

Company officials said the expansion was the result of a merger with another company.

County planners said the company's rapid expansion makes it more suitable for the Apex site 15 miles northeast of Las Vegas, which the County Commission created specifically for hazardous businesses after the 1988 PEPCON explosion killed two people.

The commission unanimously approved the variance request, and gave the applicant five years to look for an alternate location.

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