Firm Blamed in Toxic Gas Leak Had Committed Other Offenses

An Anaheim chemical company that released a cloud of toxic gas last Thursday was on probation for previous toxic leaks that it did not report, according to state and local officials.

The Stepan Co. was fined $5,000 by the city attorney’s office and put on three years’ informal probation in January, 1987, after Anaheim Fire Department officials found that three “minor” chemical accidents in late 1986 had not been reported, Deputy City Atty. Bruce E. Bartram said.

Anaheim Fire Marshal Mike Doty said Tuesday that the Fire Department has no plans to seek a complaint against the company as a result of Thursday’s mishap.

15 Sought Treatment

About 15 people sought medical help after more than 6,000 cubic feet of sulfur trioxide was released into the air from the company’s plant.

“We are not going to prosecute because they did everything that the law requires on this (chemical) release,” Doty said, adding: “In fact, they were upgrading their equipment to the tune of $2 million to eliminate these (problems).”

In addition to Thursday’s leak, Doty said the company had reported chemical leaks in February, 1985; February, 1986, and January, 1987. During the course of the January, 1987, investigation, fire officials discovered the unreported accidents.

The Air Quality Management District is investigating the latest incident. After Thursday’s mishap, the AQMD cited the chemical company for being a “public nuisance.”

AQMD spokesman Ron Ketcham said the agency’s lawyers would be checking the company’s safety record and the effects of the leak on the community in determining whether to issue a district penalty or to seek criminal prosecution by the city. He said a decision was expected in two to three weeks.

Depending on the results of its investigation, the AQMD could assess a penalty of up to $25,000 against the company, Ketcham said.

Symptoms Lingering

Meanwhile, Dr. Richard Thomas, who works in the poison unit of the UCI Medical Center, expressed concern that some of the residents who were exposed to the leaking gas continued to show symptoms of toxic poisoning. He said he spoke to two parents Tuesday, who complained that their children are still suffering reactions to the gas.

“There are children now who have had nausea and vomiting for four days,” Thomas said. “It’s just becoming a prolonged situation that seems to be resulting in more and more concern.”

Although the county Health Department has offered to give those residents free medical evaluations, no people from the neighborhood have visited the clinic, according to Dr. Sasithorn Ratana of the Pulmonary Disease Service.

Officials of the Stepan Co., which makes chemicals for soap, have said they plan to meet with residents of the area affected by the leak. As of Tuesday, no meeting had been scheduled.