The Region - News from Jan. 24, 1986

Union Carbide officials, acceding to a request from the mayor of La Mesa, said they will close their toxic gas manufacturing plant in that city. Mayor Fred Nagle said Union Carbide President H. F. Tomfohrde informed him by letter that Phoenix Research Corp., a Union Carbide subsidiary, intends to move to “a more suitable location at the earliest possible date.” Nagle had written to Tomfohrde requesting the closure earlier this week, after a petition drive by La Mesa residents who want the arsine and phosphine gas plant shut down. City officials admitted last year that they had been ignorant of the nature of the plant’s products during its 12 years of operation.