Chemical plant that spewed toxic gas, closes large bridge during rush hour, gets hit with fine

NEW CASTLE, Del. (AP) – A chemical plant owner faces nearly $ 250,000 in penalties for a toxic gas leak that stopped the Delaware Memorial Bridge for several hours in November.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management announced on Thursday that it reached a settlement with Croda Inc. The settlement resolves air and water violations at the Atlas Point facility at the foot of the bridge, including the release of nearly 2700 pounds of highly combustible ethylene oxide gas on November 25.

Officials say that Croda's investigation found that the leak was caused by a pack of unsuitable material for treating ethylene oxide at the new plant.

The bridge connecting Delaware and New Jersey was closed for seven hours. The company recently repaid the Delaware River and Bay Authority nearly $ 1[ads1]50,000 in lost customs.