On
May 2, 2026, EPA was notified by the National Response Center (NRC) that a tank
at the C&S Chemicals facility in Fort Smith, AR, exploded, releasing
approximately 100,000 gallons of acidified aluminum sulfate on-site. The cause
of the explosion is unknown. Additional reporting from the NRC on May 3, 2026,
indicated the volume released was 140,000 gallons and flowed into a nearby
creek draining to the west, impacting fish and wildlife. The creek flows west across the state line into
Oklahoma, then north into the Poteau River, which flows into the Arkansas
River.
On
the morning of May 4, 2026, EPA deployed to the site and is working with
federal and state partners. The US Fish and Wildlife Services
(USFWS), the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (ADEE), the Choctaw Nation and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) are also onsite.
EPA
is monitoring the site and will provide updates as needed.
