Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Have Katrina's lessons been learned or have mistakes been repeated?

In 2005, "Katrina demonstrated that hurricanes and refineries are not a good mix" {1} and building refineries and tank farms close to established subdivisions is poor planning. With the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP http://www.loopllc.com/f1.cfm?n=1 ) and the use of pipelines, the tank farms could be relocated and refinery expansions could occur outside these vulnerable zones.

Yet, as early as September 2005 Murphy Oil Meraux refinery continued to meet with LDEQ for its tank farm expansion plans in the flood plain closer to the MRGO, and in 2006 the local council sent the Army COE a letter of no objection for this project.

Concerned Citizens opposed to the tank farm expansion have requested soil subsidence mitigation, berm improvements and anchoring of tanks to prevent another catastrophic event.

Have Katrina's lessons been learned or have the mistakes been repeated?

{1} Another interesting article by CAIN BURDEAU :

Are Houston's petrochemicals safe from hurricanes?

Associated Press Writer © 2008 The Associated PressOct. 6, 2008, 11:28AM
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6042506.html

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