State Police open ammonia leak investigation

Though local authorities say criminal activity did not play a part in an anhydrous ammonia leak that forced the residents around the Corbin Ice Plant to evacuate last Tuesday, the business owners have requested that the Kentucky State Police open an investigation as well to try and help determine the cause.

Corbin Ice Company Vice President Jreg Botner said he has requested that the Kentucky State Police officially open an investigation to try and determine if any criminal activity led to the leak. This comes after Corbin Police, more specifically, CPD Sgt. Bill Rose, said his investigation led him to another conclusion.

“I didn’t find any indication that any criminal activity had taken place, ” Rose said. “They felt like there had been some tampering with the leaky valve and it is my understanding that they are going to request that the State Police open an investigation. They are well within their rights by doing that. “

Even though Rose’s investigation turned up no leads, Botner said he feels strongly that someone had tampered with the valve, especially considering the type of valve and location of it. He also confirmed that KSP is expected to officially open a case in the matter. Kentucky State Police Detective Colan Harrell visited the plant Tuesday and spoke with owners and employees about the incident. He would not provide any details about his investigation.

“What we have is a drainage system that has two valves for safety concerns, ” Botner said. “Both of these valves have to be opened to drain anything out of this system and they are usually used to drain refrigerant oil for maintenance purposes.

“This is a pressurized system and one of the two valves is spring-loaded, which is made to shut on its own to prevent these kind of leaks, ” Botner added. “Both of these valves have to be manually opened, and one of them you have to turn several times for the liquid to come out. That’s what has led me to believe that some type of tampering has gone on. “

Botner also said the findings of the Hazmat team that was called in to find the leak have played a big part in requesting an investigation.

He said that when Hazmat officials entered the storage area, they said the cause of the leak may have been the fact that some ammonia has been flash frozen as it was draining, forcing the valve to remain open and allowing the ammonia to leak out”

“The ammonia is stored in there at around -20 degrees, ” Botner said. “What seems to have happened is while draining, it flash froze, but someone had to open the valve to allow that to happen.

“From what I understand, all they had to do is knock on the pipe to break the frozen substance loose, ” Botner added.

As for access to the system, Botner said the leaky valve is not under lock and key, but added that there may be only one employee, other than he and his brother Jody Botner, that even know what the valves in that particular room may be used for.

“It’s not in a locked room or anything, but most of my employees wouldn’t know what that valve was if they could find it, ” he said. “It is only used once a month, and like I said, that’s to drain the refrigerant oil.

“As far as getting to this valve, it’s not in the middle of the floor either, ” he added. “It’s kind of back out of the way and you have to physically bend over and reach back a way to get to it.
“Either way, hopefully we can just get things sorted out and get back to normal,” Botner added.