The Stanley area avoided catastrophe last Wednesday when a truck carrying 3,000 gallons of sulfuric acid overturned into the ditch on Industrial Park Road in the City’s West Industrial Park, but without releasing any of its contents to the environment.

The incident called in at 9:07 a.m. on Wednesday April 19 resulted in a response from both city police and fire as well as the West Central Wisconsin Hazardous Material (Hazmat) Response Team, after driver Richard Thomas Smasal, age 56, turned his gaze away from the road and ended up in the ditch.

Sulfuric acid (chemical sign H2SO4) has a pH close to zero in its pure form and is used in the manufacture of explosives, drugs, detergents, dyes, fertilizers, paints, and plastics, among its many different uses.

As part of the Wednesday response, Stanley Fire brought out fire engines 1 and 2 as well as the new Rescue, setting up road barricades with its fire engines at the turn on Janicki as well as at the intersection of Janicki and Urquhart Roads. Stanley Police Department responded in the person of Sergeant Adam Kuechenmeister.

With barricades up to the west and tow trucks on site, the West Central Wisconsin Hazmat arrived just before 10:30 a.m. Hours later the Stanley Police Department gave an update on the situation.

“Update: We have been informed that no spill occurred as a result of this incident and the roadway has been reopened as of 4:15 p.m.” it shared via Facebook.

As to city ordinances and regulations, the following is contained within Chapter 13-1-166 of the city code, under ‘Hazardous Substances.’

“No operation or activity shall emit any hazardous substances in such a quantity, concentration or duration as to be injurious to human health or property, and all emissions of hazardous substances shall not exceed the limitations established in Chapter NR 154'19, Wis. Adm. Code’.”

Such codes require human cooperation, as inanimate nature is structured on the laws of chemistry and reactive, rather than rational. Luckily, disaster was avoided.