Background regarding Praxair explosion at St. Louis facility and incidents that have followed*

6/24/05-At approximately 3:15 in the afternoon, a fire starts at the Praxair facility on Chouteau Avenue in the Lafayette Square neighborhood. Shortly after, huge explosions occur, sending flames hundreds of feet into the air, and metal canisters into the surrounding streets and neighborhood. Portions of the neighborhood are evacuated as fire crews attempt to prevent the fire from spreading into the surrounding historic neighborhood. Numerous homes and cars suffered significant damage. Following the incident, debris and asbestos are found throughout the neighborhood. The facility is hosed down with water for weeks and air quality is monitored.

6/30/05-The Lafayette Square Restoration Committee (LSRC) hosts a meeting to address residents’ concerns and questions regarding the explosion at the Praxair facility and safety issues. Attending were the mayor, fire chief, police chief and various other city officials. The neighborhood expressed their appreciation to the emergency workers who put themselves in harms way to help battle the fire and limit the damage to the neighborhood. Praxair officials assure neighbors that they will work with the city to relocate their St. Louis operation to another site.

Summer 2005-Praxair continues to attend monthly LSRC meetings throughout the summer, providing updates on cleanups and insurance claims. In the meantime, interim operations for Praxair have been shifted to other locations around the area.

9/29-Praxair issues a press release & letter to Lafayette Square residents stating that:

1) They believe “the premature release of a safety relief valve on one or more gas cylinders containing flammable gas may have contributed” the St. Louis fire.

2) They plan to resume “interim” operations at the Chouteau facility (pending being issued a building permit by the city) while they continue trying to “identify” another site for operations.

9/30-Praxair meets with officials to request a building permit to re-open their Chouteau facility. The city denies the building permit. Mayor Slay and Alderman Reed state their support of this denial and concern for neighborhood safety.

10/1-The Lafayette Square Restoration Committee (LSRC) applauds the city’s decision to deny Praxair the building permit and re-state their position that Praxair’s operations are “not compatible with a residential neighborhood.”

10/4-Mayor Slay states that the City will work with Praxair to find a more suitable location but will NOT support their plans to re-open at Chouteau UNLESS & UNTIL:

1) They “provide documented evidence that residents and businesses in the Lafayette Square neighborhood are comfortable with their interim plans for limited operations at the Chouteau facility.”

2) They “provide detailed plans to the City outlining exactly what they plan to do at their Chouteau facility.”

10/11--LSRC Meeting:

1) Residents of Lafayette Square vote 150-1 stating that they oppose the issuance by the City of St. Louis of any building, occupancy or other permit that would enable Praxair to resume or continue operations at the existing Chouteau site.
2) The Praxair Neighborhood Task Force is created to address neighbors concerns regarding Praxair’s attempts to re-open at their current location. Anti-Praxair signs are soon displayed in yards throughout Lafayette Square.

11/10-The Board of Building Services hears Praxair’s appeal regarding their request for a building permit being denied. 49+ letters of opposition were received by the board stating that residents DO NOT want Praxair re-opening in Lafayette Square. 40-50 residents were in attendance at the hearing, as were all major media sources (radio, print, TV). Praxair stated that they have a good safety record and “deserve” the permit. They also accused the city of not helping them find an alternative location. Residents (who were organized by the Praxair Neighborhood Task Force) showed video footage and pictures of the June explosion, addressed physical and mental health safety concerns, and pointed out that Lafayette Square is a protected historic district unlike any other in the United States. They insisted that Praxair is still a “public nuisance” (one of the reasons they were denied the permit in the first place) and asked committee members if they would feel safe with Praxair operating in their back yards.

11/17-It is announced that the committee which heard the appeal will deliberate on the matter at 1PM on December 8th, 2005 in room 208 of City Hall. It is an open meeting and anyone can attend to observe, but it is the understanding of the Praxair Task Force that further testimony will not be heard.

* This document is simply meant to provide a general overview for someone new to this website or issue and to the knowledge of the Task Force presents accurate information. For exact dates and facts please also research other media sources, etc.