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Eagle Point Refinery Demolition Scheduled For Saturday In West Deptford

By Diana Rocco

WEST DEPTFORD, N.J., (CBS) -- Fears and concerns about a planned implosion in a South Jersey community.

The demolition is happening in West Deptford, Gloucester County on Saturday.

This entire blast is scheduled to take less than two minutes, but what many here are afraid of tonight is what comes next.

A morning blast at the closed Eagle Point refinery is causing alarm.

"The first thing I thought of was my grandchildren and them being outside and breathing in asbestos," neighbor Timothy Conaway said.

Conaway lives within eyesight of the West Deptford plant which has been closed for two years.

"They never notified us for one and we could have been outside, who know what we'll be breathing in," he said.

Sunoco owns the refinery and plans to implode a tower and chimney Saturday on one of the fractionators which converts oil to gasoline, something they say has been planned for two years.

But Conway and his wife first heard through a Facebook posting this week, warning residents to "stay inside" and "wash off cars and door handles."

"Notification would have been good because we would have been staying inside and took precautions," Conaway said.

There are thousands living within a stone's throw of the refinery. Many who have small children raising big health concerns.

But a Sunoco spokesperson tells CBS 3:

"They have inspected the demolition process along with the township and do not believe [Saturday's] implosion will cause any adverse health affects.  The warning for people ... is coming from a Facebook post and does not have merit."

West Deptford officials claim the site has been cleared of asbestos. Fire and police officials will be on hand to make sure the implosion runs smoothly.

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