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Show 4 i Toxic jet fuel drums detonated By DON ETA GATHERUM Staff Writer LAYTON A peaceful morning morn-ing was interrupted by a loud explosion explo-sion Sunday when drums of jet fuel were detonated by expert demolition demoli-tion crews on the Antelope Island Causeway. The explosion occurred while 65 evacuated families living within a half-mile radius of the intersection of Antelope Drive and Fort Lane were returning to their homes short ly after 9 a.m. Sunday morning, and the residents living along the Bluff Road near the Antelope Island causeway were starting their routine Sunday morning activities. The family of Matt and Leanne Curry, who live near the Bluff RoadAntelope Drive intersection, were backing out of their driveway when they heard a loud "boom." They stopped their van so they could witness the cloud of dirt and debris that was created when drums of chemicals taken from an open storage business located on Antelope and Fort Lane were detonated by expert toxic waste disposal handlers from Riedel Environmental En-vironmental Services. The company had received an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) contract to destroy four barrels of ammonium perchlorate that was discovered on the open storage lot, owned and operated by Marvin Allgood of Layton. Layton City Councilman Kent Smith, who lives near the site and , was evacuated along with the other families living in the area, said the destruction of the chemical, that is a component of solid rocket fuel, removed "all imminent danger to the people of the area." The ammonium perchlorate was discovered Monday morning, May 20 by Layton City officials who entered the property with a court order to determine what the owner needed to do to bring his property into conformance with the Layton City zoning ordinance. Smith indicated the city officials found containers that probably contained con-tained paints, thinners and solvents before they discovered the drums labeled "ammonium perchlorate" sitting in the back of a pickup truck, surrounded by the containers filled with other less explosive, potentially potential-ly toxic substances. Upon the discovery of the ammonium am-monium perchlorate, the state environmental en-vironmental agency and the EPA were notified, the area was immediately im-mediately sealed off and steps were made to evacuate the area within a half-mile radius and to remove the drums to a safe site for detonation. The removal process started Saturday Sat-urday morning after the 7:45 a.m, evacuation of the area was completed. com-pleted. Layton City police made sure the area was vacated and then sealed off the streets to prevent looting of the abandoned homes and farms. Everything went as planned. As the first returning residents reached their homes shortly after 9 a.m.-Sunday, a.m.-Sunday, the faint sound of the explosion ex-plosion which destroyed the chemicals could be heard. Some said they felt the ground vibrate when the explosion occurred. Smith indicated the EPA would keep the area of the salvage yard SEE TOXIC ON A-3 Toxic CONTINUED'FROM A-l secured for approximately two months while they complete an inventory in-ventory of the lot and its contents. During this period of time, any other potentially toxic or harmful materials will be removed. After the EPA finishes its work. Smith said Layton City officials hope to be able to work with Allgood to develop an orderly plan to clean up the entire open storage lot |