The Sunnyvale Sun

News

Chemical company to pay for fumes near schools

By Stephen Baxter

Sierra Chemical Co. pleaded no contest May 3 to releasing chlorine gas at a Sunnyvale high school swimming pool last year, and it will pay a $67,000 fine.

Sparks, Nev.-based Sierra Chemical delivers pool cleaners and other products to schools. On March 6, 2006, driver Sinjay Detleuxay accidentally delivered muriatic acid, a common pool chemical, to The King's Academy at 562 N. Britton Ave. In a large tank in the pool equipment room, Detleuxay mistakenly mixed the acid with sodium hypochlorite, creating a potentially deadly chlorine gas cloud, prosecutors said.

The gas wafted over King's Academy and Rainbow Montessori Child Development Center next door, where several children complained of nausea and burning eyes. A school nurse called 911, and more than 1,200 people were evacuated. Fifty patients were treated by medics and at least seven went to local hospitals for treatment and were later released.

Sierra Chemical paid $27,000 for the emergency response, and as part of its no contest plea to a misdemeanor Health and Safety Code violation, it will pay a fine and penalty assessments worth $69,000.

Detleuxay also pleaded no contest to the same charge and will pay $3,450 and perform 100 hours of community service.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office said Sierra Chemical will change its delivery system to "ensure that hoses carrying one chemical will not fit into tanks delivering the other," according to a statement.