Hazmat concern at Pier 96 leads to evacuation

Workers at a recycling facility at Pier 96 were evacuated early Friday morning over a possible hazardous material release.

San Francisco fire Lt. Mindy Talmadge told SF Appeal the incident was reported at 6:37 a.m. at West Coast Recycling, which is located near the Hunters Point neighborhood at the pier.

The incident occurred after a box going down a conveyor belt broke open, releasing a white powder into the air.

SF Weekly reported the powder was ammonium phosphate, a fertilizer.

Twenty people reported having irritated eyes after the release, with 12 people receiving treatment at the scene. One worker complaining of itchy eyes was taken to a local hospital for further treatment.

The building was evacuated and secured by 8 a.m. A hazardous material team went in to find the box and contain the release where it was discovered that it was ammonium phosphate. Talmadge told KCBS the only cleanup required for the substance was to wet it down.

After nearly three hours, the building was getting ready to reopen.

Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, San Francisco Department of Public Health and city fire and police units responded to the incident.

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