Truck Loaded With 4,000 Gallons of Rocket Fuel Arrives at Vandenberg
A truckload of rocket fuel arrived safely Thursday at this coastal base in the first shipment since transport of the deadly chemical was suspended in September because of objections by Southern California officials.
“A single tractor-trailer shipment of 4,000 gallons of nitrogen tetroxide arrived at the base about 4:30 a.m.,” said base spokesman Air Force Capt. Thom Connell.
No incidents were reported as the Air Force’s shipment, escorted by the California Highway Patrol, moved through San Luis Obispo Thursday, Fire Chief Mike Dolder said. The chief, a strong opponent of the shipment, said his department was put on alert in case of an accident, which could set off fires and release a toxic gas cloud.
Fuel shipments had moved safely and without public notice for years on freeways through the Los Angeles area until public officials lodged complaints.
San Luis Obispo passed an emergency ordinance to block shipments through the city until it had an emergency plan and equipment to deal with any possible accident. But federal attorneys succeeded in getting the city’s request for a temporary restraining order transferred to Los Angeles federal court.
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