RALEIGH, N.C. — The Governor's Task Force on Hazardous Materials will hold its second meeting Tuesday afternoon.

Gov. Mike Easley appointed the task force to tighten the rules and possibly recommend changes in the laws governing hazardous-waste storage facilities. The task force was formed after the Environmental Quality Industrial Services facility explosion in Apex in October.

The federal U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board said the fire started in an area where pool chlorination tablets were stored. A massive chemical cloud forced thousands of Apex homeowners from their homes.

The cause of the fire is not yet known. Investigators are trying to determine if chemicals that could start a reaction were stored in the same area.

One of the main issues the task force is looking at is monitoring what chemicals are stored where. In the EQ fire, it took company officials a week to get a list of what was inside the facility.