County criticized over AeroTech

Thursday, March 7, 2002 | 9:19 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A legislative subcommittee addressing the issue of industrial explosions wants to know how residential neighborhoods were allowed to grow around a model rocket plant destroyed by fire.

The subcommittee, headed by Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, asked Clark County officials to detail how planners permitted homes to be built near AeroTech Inc. at 1955 South Palm St. in southeastern Las Vegas.

One employee died, four were injured and three firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation as a result of the Oct. 15 explosion. Flames burned for more than 24 hours and destroyed the 60,000-square-foot building.

The subcommittee, Townsend said, would look into the siting of plants.

"They (Clark County) don't seem to have rules down there. They almost grow cancerous," Townsend said.

Dan Musgrove, governmental representative for Clark County, said a subcommittee developed by County Commissioner Myrna Williams is examining that issue and will forward results of its study to the legislative group.

Clark County Fire Chief Earl Greene told the committee that AeroTech had been at the site since 1986. He said the business was properly licensed and properly zoned and complied with all conditions. He declined to say why residential developments were permitted in the area.

Ray Bacon, a representative of the Nevada Manufacturers Association, told the subcommittee that "residential encroachment on industry is a major thorn in our sides. It puts our companies at risk."

AeroTech does not belong to the association.

Tom Czehowski, chief administrative officer of the state's Occupational Safety and Health Enforcement Section, said owners of AeroTech have been fined $6,600 for nine safety citations, none of them willful. The fines are being appealed through the administrative process.

Allen Biaggi, administrator of the state Division of Environmental Protection, said a 1999 law required companies that make explosives for sale to register with the state. He said AeroTech comes under the law, but the owners dispute they are covered by it.

Even if AeroTech had registered as an explosives manufacturer in February 2001 after the regulations were adopted, the division didn't have the ability to inspect the plant because it didn't have specialists who were knowledgeable in this area.

Biaggi said he hopes to hire an outside engineering expert in the near future to review plant designs and conduct inspections of those explosives manufacturers.

Investigators said the explosion at AeroTech was touched off when an automatic saw was turned on and came into contract with a metal cleaning brush, which ignited ammoniam perchlorate particles.

The subcommittee will examine tightening the laws in hopes of lessening the chances of similar disasters. Members said they want to see state and local agencies sharing information, especially so that firefighters know what they will encounter when they answer an alarm.

The committee will hold two more meetings to gather information and make its recommendations for presentation to the 2003 Legislature.