Chemical Smell Prompts Menlo Park Hazmat Response

MENLO PARK (KCBS) — Officials in Menlo Park have cleared hazardous material from Edison Technology Park and were investigating the unusual use of toxic chemicals in a parking lot early Wednesday.

Fire crews arrived to find a chemical called chromic acid in the back of a pickup truck that was parked outside the biotech firm ImmunePath on 3507 Edison Way.

KCBS' Matt Bigler Reports:

Brian Molver with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department said the acid was apparently being used to refine gold.

Edison Technology Park property owner and manager Ron Newdall said the substance was in a beaker that had been placed in the back of a pickup truck.

ImmunePath workers had been using the beaker and apparently put it outside after it started to smell, said Newdall.

The San Mateo County Hazardous Materials Response Team was called out to the scene. The substance was deemed to be of no risk to any neighbors and the scene was cleared by about 7 a.m., said Newdall.

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