Ammonia Emissions from Perdue Plant in Milford

MILFORD, Del. (AP) - The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control says an equipment problem led to the release of a hazardous chemical from a poultry processing facility on Friday.
 
Environmental officials say that a mechanical failure in a pump led to the release of more than 200 pounds of anhydrous ammonia from a Perdue Farms facility in Milford.
 
Company spokeswoman Julie DeYoung says that the anhydrous ammonia was being used as a refrigerant and that the incident was reported to the appropriate authorities.
 
Perdue spokesman Joe Forsthoffer says a part of the plant was evacuated as a precaution for about 20 minutes because people working there smelled ammonia but no one was injured. Forsthoffer says the area around the plant wasn't affected.