Plant Stops Production of Deadly Gases, Prepares to Leave La Mesa : Chemicals: Phoenix Research Corp. is moving to the Arizona desert, ending a four-year fight over its right to operate.

A four-year struggle to oust a hazardous chemical manufacturer from La Mesa draws to a close today when the Phoenix Research Corp. ceases production of arsine and phosphine gases.

The gases, used in the electronics and semiconductor industries and lethal in very small doses, have been manufactured in the 53,000-person community for 17 years. The company’s work, however, had not been an issue until 1985, when it became public that the Union Carbide subsidiary was producing the gases.

“We feel good about the plant being gone,” said Diane Takvorian of the Environmental Health Coalition, a San Diego hazardous materials watchdog organization. “This is the only way in which they can ensure the safety of the community.”

The closing follows four years of legal maneuvering and community protests aimed at halting the operation. Phoenix Research announced the shutdown in mid-November while embroiled in a legal battle with the county’s Air Pollution Control District over whether the agency could force Phoenix Research to cease production of the deadly gases.

Arsine and phosphine are among the most lethal gases known. Exposure to arsine of 500 parts per million causes instant death.

“It’s not the kind of situation where you can afford (an accident) to happen even once,” Takvorian said.

Her organization will hold a 2:45 p.m. rally today in front of Phoenix Research on Alvarado Road to demand that the company certify that it has ceased production of the hazardous materials and that the plant is free of hazardous waste.

“What will be left behind will be a building that is exactly the same as when we got there,” said Jim Secor of Linde Communications, a subdivision of Union Carbide. “We will be removing the equipment and restoring the building to its original condition and ready for its next occupant.”

Although the La Mesa plant will cease production of arsine and phosphine gas today, it will continue to store those gases until the end of the year, Secor said. During the next several months, the plant will undergo “decommissioning” before the plant is completely evacuated, he said.

Secor said La Mesa was an appropriate site for the chemical plant when production began, but “a lot of growth took place around that facility since 1973.” But Takvorian argued that the population around the plant has not dramatically changed.

“La Mesa has certainly grown, but not in that area,” Takvorian said. “They have never been in the correct location.”

The plant will move to near Kingman, Ariz., population 15,000, according to Secor. Production there is expected to begin in late February.

Although the move will cost more than $10 million and has been planned for more than a year, Phoenix Research may just be leaving one group of angry residents for another, albeit a smaller group.

“There are a lot of people who aren’t happy about them being here,” said Louis Sorensen, city manager of the west Arizona desert community.

Since the residents of Kingman were first informed a year ago that a hazardous-chemical plant would move near their community, “the city itself, politically and emotionally has gone through significant changes,” Sorensen said.

Two unsuccessful recall efforts were launched against the mayor and four of the six City Council members in the last year because of their support for the plant. Both recalls died because of insufficient signatures, said Sorensen.

“I don’t know of any change that Linde can make to really make us feel comfortable with them,” said Richard Ruppert of the 800-member Citizens Against Toxic Substances in Kingman. His organization did not support the recall efforts, although it opposes the plant.

The company is actually building two plants in the Kingman area, but only one will manufacture the deadly arsine and phosphine gases. That plant will be 10 miles from the city and 7 miles from the nearest home, Secor said.