Although none has proved fatal, precautionary evacuations were ordered in at least one incident: a Jan. 11, 1998, release that involved 82 pounds of sulfur trioxide. More recently, two workers were injured in an Aug. 25 accident at the plant.

Most chemicals stored or used at the sprawling chemical complex off Clanton Road are regulated under federal reporting requirements that govern ``extremely hazardous substances'' such as ammonia and sulfuric acid - which can cause severe injury or death.

The plant stores huge amounts of chemicals used for its manufacturing processes, according to records filed with the Richmond County Emergency Management Agency.

Those records, made public under a federal act designed to inform residents about chemical dangers in their community, list millions of pounds of chemicals at the plant on any given day.

Amoco Polymers accident report

Here are the major accidents and spills reported by news media or to the Richmond County Local Emergency Planning Agency and the National Response Center database, which tracks chemical accidents nationwide:

Aug. 25, 2000: Two workers burned - one critically - by hot solvent while trying to isolate and remove a pump

Jan. 22, 1998: Sulfur trioxide, 75 pounds, problem with pump bearings

Jan. 11, 1998: sulfur trioxide, 82 pounds, broken flex pipe

Dec. 25, 1994: 500 pounds chlorobenzene, valve not closed properly

Nov. 24, 1995: 100 pounds anhydrous ammonia, leaky chiller system valve

Sept. 4, 1995: 110 pounds monochlorobenzene, gasket failure

July 18, 1995: 100 pounds chlorobenzene, upset because of exchanger failure

Feb. 21, 1994: 100 pounds monochlorobenzene, process unit malfunction

April 29, 1993: 700 pounds chlorobenzene, equipment leak

March 13, 1992: 9,000 pounds ammonia, compressor valve failure

March 4, 1992: 200 gallons monochlorobenzene, valve left open

Dec. 1, 1991: 6,000 pounds monochlorobenzene, leaking heat exchanger

Sept. 26, 1991: 4,165 pounds monochlorobenzene, transfer pump failure

Here are some of the chemical inventories listed:

Sulfuric acid: 126,992 pounds average; maximum of 195,100 pounds

Monochlorobenzene: 1,416,432 pounds average; maximum of 1,967,075 pounds

Sulfur trioxide: 352,548 pounds average; maximum of 532,548 pounds

Petroleum distillate: 30,829 pounds average; maximum 43,318 pounds

Ammonia: 8,240 pounds average and maximum

Sodium hydroxide: 424,108 pounds average; 721,205 pounds maximum

Dichlorodiphenylsulfone: 1,126,079 pounds average; 1,899,594 maximum

Polypthalamide: 349,640 pounds average; 1,988,518 pounds maximum

Fuel oil: 382,816 pounds average; 486,206 pounds maximum.

"Trade secret chemicals'': 2.3 million pounds average; 4.5 million pounds maximum

Reach Robert Pavey at (706) 868-1222, Ext. 119.