Features

Acid spill shuts down I-880 

FREMONT — An acid spill shut down Northbound Interstate 880 for more than 12 hours after a big rig carrying nitric acid overturned on the busy commuter throughway. 

All lanes were reopened Thursday at 12:48 p.m. 

Firefighters worked through the night to clean the acid after the 10:30 p.m. accident Wednesday. 

One reason for the lengthy cleanup was that firefighters could only stay in their protective suits for about 15 minutes at a time.  

The gear is cumbersome, and requires a breathing apparatus. 

Traffic was routed onto surface streets, and truck restrictions were lifted on Interstate 580 during the closure. 

Officials drafting plan  

for pharmacies 

WALNUT CREEK — State officials are drafting plans to regulate pharmacies that mix their own prescription drugs, following three deaths last year linked to an East Bay pharmacy. 

The new regulations would require pharmacies that make injectable drugs to obtain special state-issued licenses. 

The standards should be ready for review by the state Board of Pharmacy in October, according to Paul Riches, legislative analysis for the board. 

A meningitis outbreak last year, traced to a tainted batch of an injectable steroid from Doc’s Pharmacy, prompted the call for increased regulations.