Governor asks state to step up inspections of explosive plants

Friday, Jan. 9, 1998 | 4:23 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- After an explosion at a chemical plant in Washoe County, Gov. Bob Miller told state agencies Friday to step up their inspections of these facilities.

"In the wake of the tragedy at Sierra Chemical Co., I want all explosives manufacturing sites inspected again as soon as possible," Miller said.

While the cause of the Wednesday explosion at Sierra Chemical has not been determined, Miller said, "I believe it prudent to inspect each such site at this time. This may provide an extra margin of safety at other facilities."

The three buildings at the TNT production plant at Lockwood, about 11 miles east of Sparks, were destroyed. One body was recovered Thursday and three other employees were still missing.

Miller said all state inspections were up to date but the next round should be expedited.

The state Industrial Insurance Division said its 1996 inspection of the Sierra Chemical plant had produced no major safety violations.

Unannounced inspections by the state are conducted by the fire marshal and by the occupational safety and health enforcement section.

An inspector for Washoe County said Thursday that a steam boiler was illegally operating in one of the buildings that was demolished. The boiler had not been inspected prior to its start-up, said Jess Traver, Washoe County building official.

The inspection was scheduled for Friday. But Tova Roseman, a spokeswoman for Sierra Chemical, disputed the statement saying the boiler, which used propane, had been properly permitted.

It had also been revealed that the plant was not inspected by Washoe County and federal safety regulators for several years. Washoe County had a policy that the Truckee Meadows fire marshall should conduct four inspections a year but none have been done since 1992.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, issued the permit for the company to make explosives but had not conducted an inspection since 1995.

Miller also announced he has appointed Alan Biaggi, deputy administrator of the state Division of Environmental Protection, as the state's liaison with federal and local agencies in investigating the blast at Sierra Chemical.