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8172599 
Journal Article 
IMPACT WIDENING FROM EXPLOSION OF NEVADA ROCKET OXIDIZER PLANT 
Seltzer, R 
1988 
Yes 
Chemical & Engineering News
ISSN: 0009-2347
EISSN: 1520-605X 
66 
32 
7-15 
English 
The town of Henderson, Nev. , was rocked by a series of explosions at a plant owned by Pacific Engineering & Production Co. of Nevada (PEPCON). The impact was immediate and dramatic, and is still widening. On one level, the disaster created a critical national problem. What went up in smoke and flame in a matter of minutes was an inventory of more than 8 million lb of ammonium perchlorate (AP), and approximately half the U. S. capacity for making this oxidizer used in solid-fueled rockets. The accident has raised concerns in government and industry about allocation and supply of AP and the impact on national space and missile programs. Plans are in the works for restoring production at PEPCON and for expanding AP capacity at the only other U. S. producer, Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp, also sited in Henderson.