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3 clusters · 11 sources · 8 days · First seen · Last updated

Nippon Dynawave chemical tank failure investigation

Overview

A federal investigation by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has detailed the causes of a catastrophic tank failure at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company mill in Longview, Washington, on May 26, 2026. The failure of the 1.2-million-gallon ‘G Tank’ released approximately 900,000 gallons of hot, highly caustic white liquor, resulting in 11 deaths and several injuries.

Findings indicate that the carbon-steel tank shell had thinned below safe limits. Despite inspection recommendations for repairs or internal inspections issued as early as July 2025, and subsequent confirmations of unsafe wall thickness in October 2025 and February 2026, the company kept the tank in service. On the day of the incident, a process upset caused the tank to reach 90% capacity before it failed.

Recent records reveal a long-standing history of safety and environmental issues at the facility. Since 2016, the Washington Department of Ecology has issued 54 environmental violation notices to the company, totaling $41,500 in fines. Furthermore, the Department of Labor and Industries has investigated over a dozen safety complaints since 2018. Since 2015, the company has paid more than $2.4 million in workers’ compensation claims for 169 injured employees, including those involving caustic substance exposure.

Chemical engineering expert Stephen Kmiotek described the pattern of equipment failures and violations as a ‘red flag,’ suggesting the site had not been properly maintained. While the Washington Department of Ecology continues to document violations related to the May spill, investigations into the tank collapse remain ongoing.

Entities

Longview, Washington · Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company · U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board · Longview · Washington

Timeline

  1. 7 days ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources
    Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. mill had history of safety violations

    Records show the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. mill in Washington had a history of safety and environmental violations prior to a May tank collapse that killed 11 workers.

  2. 11 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Nippon Dynawave tank failure investigation reveals ignored safety warnings

    Investigations into the fatal Nippon Dynawave tank failure in Longview, Washington, reveal the tank was operated despite multiple warnings of shell thinning. Regulators have also issued environmental violation.

  3. 15 days ago

    [CRIME] 9 sources
    Nippon Dynawave Packaging tank was unfit for service before deadly failure

    A federal report found a chemical tank at a Washington paper mill was unfit for service months before a May 2026 failure that killed 11 people and released 900,000 gallons of caustic liquid.

Sources

bangordailynews.com · darnews.com · fox13seattle.com · haberaktuel.com · newsday.com · packagingdive.com · processingmagazine.com · regionalassociations.org · singtaousa.com · troyrecord.com · winnipegfreepress.com

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history