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Shell fueling station, 3355 Benning Road NE.
Photo: National Hydrogen Association |
The River Terrace community is reexamining the safety of hydrogen fueling in the aftermath of a recent leak at the Shell station, 3355 Benning Road NE. An underground tank, holding approximately 1,500 gallons of liquid hydrogen, began leaking just after midnight on Oct. 6. Repairs were complete before 3 a.m. The leak was attributed to a faulty shut-off valve.
Liquid hydrogen is highly flammable and can explode. A section of Benning Road was temporarily closed, but no evacuation was deemed necessary. Many residents remained unaware of the incident for days, and community members later questioned why they were not notified.
Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner JoAnne Prue (7D04), whose single member district includes River Terrace, invited speakers from Shell and emergency-response agencies to address the incident at an Oct. 16 community meeting. Sharon Robinson, public relations representative for Shell, said there was no reason to notify the community because there had been no danger.
Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander says her office followed up with Shell and emergency personnel about the lack of notice. “We've been assured that authorities will be notified of any future incident so that appropriate measures can be taken.”
Prue said residents remain concerned and were not satisfied with initial responses. She is arranging with representatives of Homeland Security, the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies to convene a roundtable so that responses can be coordinated. The ANC will report back to the community on evacuation plans and other issues specific to the hydrogen fueling station.
The refueling station, the first in the US, opened in 2004. A five-year health study is coming to a conclusion soon, and community members will also be seeking those results. |
