A plantwide commemoration of the tragedy was held in December to remember the deaths of Heins Kohl, John Rowland and George Sanders. Workers joined family members in dedicating a garden area inside the grounds of the plant, now known as Solvay Advanced Polymers. The plant also adopted Gracewood Park and planted three trees in memory of the men.

Today's anniversary will be tough for Tonya Rowland, Mr. Rowland's wife. She is left to raise the couple's children, 5-year-old Hudson and 2-year-old Lindsey.

"It's been hard, trying to learn how to be a single mother and answering (Hudson's) questions about what happened," Ms. Rowland said. "On Father's Day, we had to take gifts to the cemetery."

Ms. Rowland will mark the anniversary by visiting her husband's gravesite and having lunch with her best friend, Christene Knox, who understands the pain of losing a loved one because her mother died in an October car accident.

Ms. Rowland said the past year has been made easier by the support of friends and the community.

Tonya Rowland, the widow of John Rowland, who died in the BP Amoco Polymers explosion a year ago, visits a memorial garden at the plant with her children Lindsey, 2, and Hudson, 5. ANNETTE M. DROWLETTE/STAFF

On March 13, 2001, the three workers were killed by an explosion that occurred while the Amodel unit was being shut down for maintenance and repairs. An investigation revealed that a pressurized waste tank blew when the workers removed bolts to open it for cleaning.

Since the explosion, damaged areas of the unit have been entirely redesigned and work procedures have been revamped to ensure safety, plant spokeswoman Pam Barbara said.

"The redesign of the polymer waste area where the explosion occurred will cool waste immediately and eliminate the need for employees to open waste drums," Ms. Barbara said in a statement.

An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration resulted in a September citation and a $119,000 penalty for charges of violating federal regulations in the explosion.

A lawsuit, filed by the victims' families, is pending against the makers of the waste tank and its pressure gauge and the designer of the Amodel unit.

Reach Greg Rickabaugh at (706) 828-3851 or greg.rickabaugh@augustachronicle.com.