Keeping Track of Chemical Perils

The saga goes on for Phoenix Research Corp., a La Mesa firm that produces arsine and phosphine, two of the most deadly gases known.

After a Times article in 1985, La Mesa officials asked Phoenix to move from its Fletcher Parkway location in the densely populated East County suburb. Phoenix agreed, but its efforts to find a new home have gone slowly. Meanwhile, county air pollution officials have been trying to regulate the firm, but a suit filed by Phoenix has put their effort on hold. It now appears as if the firm may remain in La Mesa until its lease expires in 1991.

The difficulty the community and county face in regulating Phoenix ex post facto is hardly surprising.

In Phoenix’s 15 years in La Mesa, the firm apparently has never released either of the gases, which are used in the semiconductor industry. Health officials say it is a carefully run operation. And the company has now prepared a contingency plan to be used in case of an accident.

But the possibility for disaster still exists, especially in the event of an earthquake. Exposure to just 500 parts per million of arsine is almost instantly lethal.

The community may have to cross its fingers in the Phoenix case, but this scenario should not need to be repeated. The time for regulating the location of businesses using hazardous materials is before they open. In spite of a host of agencies and laws governing hazardous wastes, Phoenix escaped most official attention, in part because there was no central agency responsible.

Two recent state laws should make such surprises less likely.

Under the first, passed in 1985, all companies using hazardous materials must report to the county. Previously, the county was able to regulate only those firms in unincorporated areas, although that law was the first in the state.

Under the second law, companies using certain acutely hazardous materials may be required to prepare plans for testing and maintenance, as well as accident plans.

The uniformity of those laws should go a long way toward preventing surprises for city officials.

But what is still needed is for these reporting requirements to be integrated into local land-use planning laws, so that public officials have the information before a permit is granted, allowing them to make informed decisions on whether or where to permit companies using hazardous chemicals.

Such an important public health matter demands regional cooperation and uniform regulations so that companies are not able to shop around for a community without restrictions.