City Cites USA Metal

— City officials issued a disturbance citation Tuesday to USA Metal for an explosion at the plant Jan. 7.

“We issued the disturbance citation under the new noise ordinance,” said C.J. Stephens, code compliance officer. “We called it a disturbance not because of the loudness, but the force of the explosion. It rattled windows near the plant and knocked pictures off the wall.”

A USA Metal official or an attorney representing the company is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. Feb. 11 in Lowell District Court, Stephens said.

“There was a loud noise with associated vibrations that hit my house from the direction of the USA Metal plant.” — Heather Marie Wells, Lowell resident

“I can’t tell you what the fine will be; that’s up to the judge,” Stephens said.

This was the first citation issued to the recycling company under the noise ordinance approved by aldermen last year.

The plant was last cited by the city Jan. 28, 2012, for working past the hours established by the conditional use permit, Stephens said.

Neighbors in the Southfork subdivision, across the railroad tracks from the plant at 721 S. Lincoln St., filed 18 complaints the day of the Jan. 7 explosion.

Heather Marie Wells, 600 Topaz, sent an email to the city saying “there was a loud noise with associated vibrations that hit my house from the direction of the USA Metal plant.”

Other residents affected by the explosion called police or City Hall to express similar concerns about the explosion.

The explosion was caused by a propane bottle, according to a USA Metal spokesman. No one was injured and no damage was reported.

Normally pressurized containers are kept separate from other recyclable metals, said Tom Smith, USA Metal chief operating officer.

“I’m the only one authorized to determine what should be done with any pressurized item,” Smith said Wednesday.

The propane bottle was part of scrap metal compacted into a cube and shipped to Lowell from another location, Smith said. No one at the plant knew the propane bottle was in the cube.

When the cube was put into the metal shredder, the bottle exploded, he said.

The metal shredder is enclosed in walls and has a clam-like shell over the top to protect workers as well as neighbors from flying debris.

“We done some investigation and know where the cube originated and have taken steps to correct the problem,” Smith said.

Normally, pressurized tanks are depressurized and inspected, then cut in half with hydraulic cutters, Smith said.

“We work very hard to operate a safe plant, but there is always room for improvement,” Smith said. “City officials have worked collectively with us to mediate problems with our neighbors and sustain a plan that benefits everyone.”

Last year there were dozens of complaints about noise from USA Metal as well as occasional fires and loading railroad cars at night.

Company officials built berms, sound deadening walls, planted trees and moved equipment to lower the noise from the plant and the number of complaints dropped, according to city records.

While the situation has improved, neighbors remain concerned about the quality of life they have.

Mandy Bolinger said Tuesday night at the City Council meeting the plant has had a negative effect on the neighborhood.

“The plant has already affected the neighborhood. Some people have moved away because of the plant, but some of us can’t afford to move away,” Bolinger said.

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