Chemical leak at Farmington plant

FARMINGTON, N.M. (KRQE) - Residents displaced by the chemical leak in Farmington can seek shelter at Bluffview Elementary School located at 1204 Camino Real.

Battalion Chief Troy Brown with the Farmington Fire Department said there maybe as many as 100 people who can still not return to their homes after 1,500 to 2,000 gallons of Hydrochloric Acid leaked from a holding tank at the Schlumberger Plant Sunday evening.

The fire department had hoped to lift all shelter in place orders by midnight, but Brown said the clean up is going to take longer than expected.

Just before 6pm Sunday two workers at the Schlumberger plant noticed the chemical was leaking out of its holding tank and into a containment pit.

The Farmington Fire Departments Hazmat crew was called in to asses the situation. They went in to try and pump the leaking Hydrochloric Acid into a tank to haul it away but Brown said when they got in there it was discovered the pumps and hoses were not working properly.

The shelter in place remains for those who live on Resource Ave, Brynie Ave, Basin Road, S. Hutton Road, Dowell Road, Hines Road, and Don Rovin South of the old Bloomfield Highway.

For more information call dispatch at 505-334-1951.