Chemical facilities planned in ErieERIE — A chemical company is seeking zoning approval to build two chemical plants on the site of a former paper mill.Interstate Chemical wants to build a $60 million complex on the site of International Paper's former Hammermill plant in Erie.Officials say the plants would allow the company to deliver chemicals to a local biofuel producer by truck or rail.The company expects to create dozens of jobs, including chemists, plant managers and chemical engineers.The company says it is trying to finance the project. It hopes to have one plant operational by the end of this year and the other by the end of March 2017.Erie's zoning hearing board expects to unveil the expansion plans April 12.

Giant frozen barrier OK'd at nuke plantTOKYO — Japanese regulators on Wednesday approved the use of a giant refrigeration system to create an unprecedented underground frozen barrier around buildings at the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant in an attempt to contain leaking radioactive water.The Nuclear Regulation Authority said the structure, which was completed last month, can now be activated.The system will be started up in phases to allow close monitoring and adjustment.Nearly 800,000 tons of radioactive water that is already being stored in 1,000 industrial tanks at the plant has been hampering the decontamination and decommissioning of the nuclear facility, which was damaged by a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011.The success of the ice wall is believed to be key to resolving the plant's water woes.The $312 million government-funded project, proposed by construction giant Kajima, is more than a year behind schedule because of technical uncertainties. Some experts are still skeptical of the technology and question whether it's worth the huge cost.The project consists of refrigeration pipes dug 100 feet underground that are designed to freeze the soil around them. They are supposed to form a 0.9-mile wall around the reactor and turbine buildings to contain radioactive water and keep out groundwater.