Johnston's Building Inspector said Tuesday that the explosion at a landfill gas collection facility operated by Broadrock Renewables appears to have been caused by a faulty repair on a pipe that draws raw gas from the Central Landfill.
Building Inspector Bob Nascenzi said the repair of a hose inside the old Caterpillar building was not up to snuff, much like other concerns raised by town officials recently, prompting the $150 million gas collection facility to get served a cease and desist order, shutting it down, last week. Those concerns were based on the use of duct tape, broomsticks and rope to support a makeshift hose that was reportedly venting untreated gas into the atmosphere.
Officials are now dealing with high levels of cyanide and methane gas at the scene and a flare has been lit to burn off the gas that was being drawn from the now-exploded hose.
Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena said the town of Johnston has seized control of the facility and nobody will be allowed on or off the site without permission, including any employee of Broadrock.
The explosion occurred in a structure that predates and is separate from the large collection facility that was shut down by the town last week. With the explosion, the town is now seizing total control of the site.
Onlookers were pushed back from the scene by police due to the toxic gas concerns. Officials from the State Police are responding to help Johnston Police manage the scene and investigate, Polisena said.
Stay tuned for more updates. Joseph Hutnak contributed to this story.
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