Agassiz Residents Raise Concerns About Storage of Flammable Chemicals Behind Science Center

Residents sharply questioned University officials last night about the consequences of storing large quantities of flammable chemicals in a new science lab being built directly behind the Science Center.

Harvard is seeking a permit from the City of Cambridge to house 19,586 cubic feet of flammable gasses, 24,586 pounds of flammable solids, and 1,080 gallons of diesel fuel in the new Laboratory for Integrated Science and Engineering (LISE), set to be completed early next year.

The permit process requires that Harvard inform nearby residents in the Agassiz neighborhood of its intent to store dangerous chemicals.

“What I want to know is what the bottomline worst scenario could be,” said resident Carol Wienhaus last night at the Baldwin school where the meeting was held. “Could the building blow up?”

Eric Martin, Harvard’s technical director of the Center for Nanoscale Systems, which will be the building’s chief occupant, attempted to minimize fears about the lab, saying that the activity there would occur on a very “human scale.”

The scientist walked residents through the basics of nanotechnology research, pulling empty beakers and petri dishes out of a gray toolbox to illustrate his presentation.

The center will study the “novel” physical and chemical properties that emerge from particles in their smallest forms.

Two members of the Cambridge Fire Department reassured residents that the University was following proper safety procedures and that the City was equipped to deal with whatever incidents might arise.

“We have the resources to handle these emergencies,” said Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Turner of Cambridge’s Bureau of Fire Prevention.

But residents pushed the University to create more detailed evacuation plans and release the names of specific chemicals to be used at the lab.

“This is not an adversarial process, it’s a seeking of more adequate information,” resident Kate Frank said. “Our questions could help Harvard as well.”

Residents also expressed frustration that they were not informed earlier about the plans to store chemicals at the lab, saying that they only learned about it from a local paper.

“Harvard should really understand that we were surprised by this,” said Agassiz Neighborhood Council Clerk Stephen Diamond. “This feeling of uncertainty is something you’ve been trying to deal with and it’s unfortunate that we found out about it in the Cambridge Chronicle.”