[CPEO-MEF] Press Release: Chemical Scheme for Badger Disclosed

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

[This was posted to the listserve by Laura Olah, olah@speagle.com]

March 7, 2000

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

For more information, contact:
Laura Olah, Executive Director, CSWAB (608) 643-3124

Chemical Scheme For Badger Disclosed

MERRIMAC -- Continental Nitrogen & Resources Corporation (CNRC), based 
in Rosemount, Minnesota, would like to use Badger Army Ammunition Plant 
for a chemical transfer site.  Initial operations would involve hauling, 
storage, and transport of prilled (granular) ammonium nitrate used in 
the manufacture of explosives.  This proposal, however, appears to be 
only the tip of the iceberg.  According retired Badger employee Frank 
Wolf, CNRC's future plans include expanding both operations and the 
kinds of chemicals involved.

On Tuesday, February 29, Wolf presented the first phase of CNRC's
proposal to the Township of Sumpter's Land Use Planning Committee.
Initially, the company would like to lease facilities at Badger to
transfer chemicals from rail to truck.  These operations would involve 
100 to 150 railroad hopper cars per year to Badger for transfer and 
distribution by truck, Wolf said.  Assuming 25 ton trucks were utilized, 
daily traffic would be 4 trucks per day in and out of Badger.  An 
existing silo at Badger would be used for interim storage.

The proposed rail route would utilize the bridge that crosses the
Wisconsin River at Merrimac.  "Communities along the proposed route,
including the Village of Merrimac, Township of Merrimac, and the City of 
Lodi have gone on record opposing new chemical industry and associated 
rail traffic from Badger," said Laura Olah, Executive Director of 
Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger (CSWAB).  "Lodi's November 17, 
1998 resolution says 'increased rail traffic would increase the risk of 
a chemical spill, and a chemical spill would gravely endanger the City 
of Lodi residents.'"

Wolf said he will disclose further details about the CNRC proposal,
including how and when proposed expansion would occur and what other
types of chemicals might be involved, at the next Township of Sumpter
board meeting scheduled for Monday, March 13.

*   *   *
--
Laura Olah, Executive Director
Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger
E12629 Weigand's Bay South
Merrimac, WI  53561
phone (608)643-3124
fax (608)643-0005 alt fax (608)643-2682
Email: olah@speagle.com
Website: http://www.speagle.com/cswab
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