By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – The Praxair company Thursday made its case for reopening its industrial gas distribution plant in south St. Louis.
In June, the facility erupted in balls of flame after a leaky acetylene cylinder ignited.
The company wants to reopen the plant for limited operation while it searches for a new site. But the city denied Praxair a building permit.
Regional manager Randall Brittingham told the Board of Building Appeals the new plans reduce the risk of another fire.
"Can we be assured that this facility can operate safely in the future?" Brittingham said. "Absolutely. I would not stand here, and personally Praxair would not be here if we didn't believe that."
But residents of the nearby Lafayette Square neighborhood are skeptical.
April Breeden told the board they should not grant Praxair a permit.
"The official position of the Praxair Neighborhood Task Force is that we are in complete opposition to Praxair resuming any operations at the Chouteau facility," Breeden said."
Despite Praxair's promised safety measures, neighbors say it would still pose a risk because it is near a gas station and a residential neighborhood.