Cause determined for Nouryon Chemicals leak crews planning to wrap up efforts

Apr. 5 — NEWFANE — Investigators say canisters stored at improper temperatures likely triggered a chemical reaction that caused a fire last week at the Nouryon Chemicals facility on Lockport-Olcott Road. Dilshan Perera, a representative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said investigators believe a pallet containing 32, five-gallon canisters of organic peroxide that was not stored at the correct temperature triggered a chemical reaction that he described as “rapid decomposition.” According to Chemical Safety Facts, organic peroxide is derived from hydrogen peroxide, but its hydrogen is replaced with free radicals which allows the chemical to flow easier in various…