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Kankakee Plant Explosion Sends Liquid into River
KANKAKEE, Ill. (AP) -- An explosion at a Kankakee wastewater treatment plant has sent a liquid byproduct pouring into the Kankakee River, but officials say they don't yet know if the substance is hazardous.

Kankakee Fire Chief Ron Young says he doesn't know how much of the ``black slurry'' flowed into the river before the leak was stopped Monday afternoon.

Firefighters say they've notified the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the state emergency management department.

The explosion earlier Monday leveled one building at the plant. No injuries have been reported. Young says seven plant employees are all accounted for.

He says methane gas used to run the plant may have built up and caused the explosion. An investigation is continuing.

Young says he was at his home two miles away and felt the impact.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
12 27 10 by Newsroom
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