Possible Anhydrous Ammonia Storage AGAIN - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Possible Anhydrous Ammonia Storage AGAIN

By Natalie Zarowny
nzarowny@cbs4qc.com

Folks in Long Grove, Iowa are fighting back against an unwanted neighbor.

An anhydrous ammonia storage facility is causing a fuss again.

Two months ago, Crop Productions Services, withdrew its application to put a crop fertilizer facility in rural Scott County.

Now it's applying again, and that's not sitting well with some neighbors.

Nancy Phelps lives near the proposed site, she said there's no reason her little piece of Iowa heaven should be disturbed.

"It makes me feel like my life is not of value," said Nancy.

Nancy and other neighbors are again fighting to keep the crop storage facility from moving in.

They're concerned the anhydrous ammonia is explosive and will put their families in danger.

"Minimal happens, one in a million, we could be that one in a million, and there is no evacuation route from our house," said Nancy.

Plus Nancy says there's no need for the new facility because there are other ones, owned by different companies close by.

"There's a facility in Eldridge, there's a facility in DeWitt, there's a facility in Dixon, that are not crop production services but they sell the same anhydrous ammonia," said Nancy.

But the general manager of Crop Productions Services told us by phone today, after originally backing down, the company has decided there is a need for the facility, because their nearest one is more than 60 miles away.

"Crop production services is making their determination based on their business model, and I'll leave that up to crop production services," said Tim Huey, director of Scott County Planning and Development.

Anhydrous ammonia is a gas that experts say when stored and handled correctly, is safe.

But it does need to be constantly monitored.

And the county board will make the ultimate decision.

"This is in a remote area of the county, it's a relatively small tank, and it's filling smaller tanks," said Huey.

A public hearing to discuss the proposed site will be held on the 20th at the Scott County Administrative Center.