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Chemical Tank Declared Unfit Months Before Deadly Washington Failure

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board found that an inspection in July 2025 identified significant thinning in the tank's lower sections.

,   and  TIPP Staff
2 min read
Washington chemical tank was called unfit for service before deadly failure, investigators find. Pic via(@WPXI)

A chemical tank at a Washington paper mill was deemed “not fit for continued service” 10 months before it catastrophically failed and killed 11 workers, according to a federal investigation released Friday.

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board found that an inspection in July 2025 identified significant thinning in the tank's lower sections. The contractor recommended repairs, but Nippon Dynawave Packaging did not take the vessel out of service or reduce its operating capacity.

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The tank eventually imploded in May, releasing about 900,000 gallons of extremely hot, highly caustic “white liquor.” The chemical release destroyed buildings and killed 11 workers in an electrical maintenance shop.

The incident has triggered further regulatory scrutiny. Washington's Department of Ecology issued 35 environmental violation notices against the company earlier this week, with potential penalties of up to $10,000 per violation per day.

The Chemical Safety Board's investigation remains ongoing. Nippon Dynawave said it would not speculate on the cause of the failure but is cooperating with authorities investigating why the vessel failed despite earlier inspection warnings.

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