ARNSBERG, Germany—Plans by chemical company Berleburger Schaumstoffwerk GmbH to open a methylene diphenyl diisocyanate and toluene diisocyanate prepolymerization plant in Arnsberg have been scaled down due to objections from local residents and environmentalists.
Almost 100 people officially objected to the planning application, but when campaigners attended a council meeting last month, they found the company already had revised its proposal.
In the original application, BSW requested permission for tanks of 8m3 to store the substances used to make up MDI and TDI, but revised plans contained a request for tanks of 7m3.
The revised plans were outlined to the 25 objectors present at the hearing.
BSW CEO Rainer Poppel said the company could "get along with 1,000 liters."
Poppel said his company had "gone through ups and downs in its 60 years but done nothing unlawful."
The German authorities ruled that discussion would continue as BSW's revision "merely constituted a partial withdrawal of the permit application (but) no significant change in the project."
Benjamin Harms told the hearing that there would be "no structural change for the new facility" and that no air pollutants would arise that will be produced without water.
He said that a carbon filter would eliminate any odors completely and that "minimal air pollution" could occur when filling the tank.
He also said any error in substances' recipe would result in properl disposal of the contents of what would remain a "closed mixer."