NEW CASTLE, DEL. (AP) — A chemical plant owner is facing nearly $250,000 in penalties after a toxic gas leak that closed the Delaware Memorial Bridge for hours in November.
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced Thursday that it reached a settlement with Croda Inc.
The settlement resolves air and water violations at the Atlas Point facility at the base of the bridge, including the release of nearly 2,700 pounds of highly flammable ethylene oxide gas on Nov. 25.
Officials say Croda's investigation found the leak was caused by a gasket made of unsuitable material for processing ethylene oxide at the new plant.
The bridge that connects Delaware and New Jersey was shut down for seven hours.
The company recently reimbursed the Delaware River and Bay Authority nearly $150,000 in lost tolls.
