NEWBURYPORT — Fire Chief Stephen H. Bradbury III reports that the first of two large chemical storage containers was fully drained late Tuesday, and operations to drain the second/final tank began at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Municipal, state and federal authorities remain at the Seqens site on Opportunity Way.
The chemical removal process is being undertaken by a private contractor with safety oversight provided by the Newburyport Fire Department.
The Newburyport Fire Department is expected to turn the scene over to the Newburyport Building Department Wednesday afternoon. A private demolition crew is expected to began disassembly of the steel building on Thursday.
The two chemicals in the larger storage containers cannot come into contact with one another, so the process has run at a very careful pace.
Further updates will be provided as information becomes available. The next update is expected to announce that Newburyport Fire has cleared the scene and turned the site over to the Building Department.
