Chemical spill closes highway

State Highway 162 east of Willows was closed to traffic most of Saturday after a hazardous chemical flowed across the roadway from a nearby gas well.

Workers from PENCO Inc., the operators of the well, discovered the leak at 9:30 a.m. and called 9-1-1.

The highway was closed for about eight hours.

Glenn County Sheriff’s Sgt. Travis Goodwin, incident commander, said the chemical, triethylene glycol or “TEG,” widely used as a dehumidifying agent for air and natural gas, is toxic to humans and animals if inhaled, swallowed or contact is made to the skin.

“It’s a central nervous system depressant,” Goodwin said. “It can cause kidney failure. That is what concerned us the most.”

Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, headache, lethargy, weakness, eye irritation, or confusion.

Goodwin said the Willows Fire Department responded to the scene, just east of County Road T, to wash the chemical from the road.

“TEG is water soluble so we are basically diluting it,” he said. “Also, the dirt on the shoulder of the road will be removed as a added precaution.”

Officials from the Glenn County Health Department were called to the scene but the closest resident was deemed far enough away as to not require evacuation, Goodwin said.

The California Department of Fish and Game were also called.

Goodwin said Fish and Game officials who arrived around noon felt wildlife would not be in danger as the fire department had applied sufficient water onto the spill to dilute the chemical.

Contact Susan Meeker at 934-6800 or reporter@tcnpress.com.