Local Emergency Management officials responded this morning to a report of a chemical spill that took place at Cargill, Inc., a soybean processing plant off River Road in Cumberland County. According to Cargill officials, the spill occurred at approximately 4:30 this morning when a boiler spill leak resulted in the release of heat transfer fluid.

Most of the released fluid was contained on a paved area near the boiler and was cleaned up immediately. However, some of the fluid was overheated and released into the air. Fortunately, no heat transfer fluid reached the soil or water.

Cargill reported the release to the Air Quality Division of NCDENR (the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources.) There were no injuries nor was there a need to evacuate any employees.

Heat transfer fluids are commonly used in industry to remove or add heat to processed materials.

Cargill Inc. is an international marketer, processor and distributor of agricultural, food, financial and industrial products and services.

For more information on this news release, contact Jody House at 433-4922.

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