Concerned Citizens Around Murphy: Louisiana DEQ Public Notices

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8375348&ob=yes&child=yes
request to modify ALKY Reboiler to lower NOx emissions by installing Ultra Low Nox burners.

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8374292&ob=yes&child=yes

Request conveyance notice for tanks 250-1, 250-2, 250-3 (tanks in area of Hurricane Katrina tank rupture). this tank farm's rain water drains into our neighborhood canal. the maximum remaining concentration of contaminants are for industrial use only.

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8387720&ob=yes&child=yes
application to replace Tanks 250-1 and 250-2 that were removed from service in March 2011 and December 2010.

UPDATE MARCH 2012
DEQ concluded (page 80) that providing personal income for the facility's permanent and contract employees outweigh the environmental costs......................
http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8330751&ob=yes&child=yes

Public Notice for Public Meeting and Public Hearing for Murphy / Valero water discharge permit
Meeting and Hearing both on Thursday November 10th beginning with 6pm Public Meeting.   The Public Hearing to start no earlier than 7pm and no later than 730pm in the St Bernard Parish Council Meeting Room. See numerous attachments at end of document in above link.
Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan
Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan
The Draft Permit Application
US EPA No Objection letter
The US FWS No Objection Letter
Additional Information
Additional Information
Additional Information
Additional Information
Additional Information
Additional Information

Murphy Oil seeks a water discharge permit renewal. Local officials and concerned citizens request a formal Q&A format Public Meeting with the State DEQ.
Murphy Oil - Title V air permit "V6" minor modification permit approval and issued by Louisiana DEQ August 16, 2011 .     Title V permit "V6" associated environmental assessment survey or EAS submitted by applicant September 13, 2011

Documents requested in August 2011 posted recently in EDMS for Murphy oil - water discharge permit renewal.

Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan

Storm water pollution prevention plan

Rain Carbon CII (AI #2557)    seeks regulatory permit for outside storage of petroleum coke.

Rain Carbon CII has applied for a variance for increased total hours of pollution control bypass in order to increase operations because of the river's effect on other coke plants.
Rain CII is under a new settlement / consent decree, which allows a total of 500 hours bypass operations; the variance would allow an additional 150 hours.

ExxonMobil Chalmette
Public Notice application 3018 V3 for modificaiton/renewal of Exxon's No. 1 crude/coker unit
Public Notice application 3023 V5 for modification/renewal of Exxon's Sulfur recovery unit, hydrodesulfurization unit, amine treating unit, sour water stripper, waste gas system, benzene recovery unit and liquefied petroleum gas recovery

Murphy Oil Meraux Title V application for minor modification to
(Submitted May 2011; Public Notice and Public Comment Period pending)

.......revise the operating rate of the cooling tower...In January 2010, the feed pump to the cooling tower was modified to include a larger impeller to accommodate the increase in cooling demand as a result of the BenFree Unit project.......The increase in the operating rate at the cooling tower has also been evaluated for applicability to NSR in the context of the BenFree Unit....the overall project emissions increase..from the cooling tower is revised...The revised project emissions increase(s)..are less than the NSR significant emission rates, therefore the BenFree Unit project is not subject to PSD review when using this updated information........ (see Citizen's Petition to EPA to Veto the BenFree Unit Permit )

...........to delete one compressor engine, reinstate two existing compressor engines, incorporate an existing compressor previously authorized (as an emergency backup compressor), revise the inventory information and identification for an existing tank, delete a proposed tank...reinstate an existing tank, and revise the maximum operating rate for the cooling tower......

.........correct a prior permitting error and reconcile the maximum operating rates by adding two......compressor engines back into the permit........ These engines were inadvertently deleted from the permit as part of a prior modification permitting the Clean Fuels Phase II project.... (  Title V air permit "V2" issued November 2007) ) ( Public Hearing transcript)

...... these inadvertently deleted compressors which are expected to be replaced with electric compressors under the recent EPA consent decree

Murphy Oil Meraux Terminal    Title V Part 70 Renewal and Modification
Public Notice

Murphy Oil Meraux refinery US EPA / LDEQ settlement consent decree
Federal notice
Listed as Other News in the Murphy Oil Meraux CAP September Meeting :

The St Bernard Parish Council has requested a Public Hearing on Murphy Oil's Land Treatment Unit Post Closure Plan. The LDEQ Public Hearing will be held on 9/23/2010 at 6pm in the Council Chambers.   For more information: http://concernedcitizensaroundmurphy.blogspot.com/2010/07/louisiana-deq-public-notices.html

LDEQ is accepting Public Comments on its proposed settlement agreement with Murphy Oil on alleged violations of the water permit. Public Comment deadline is 9/20/2010. For more information:
http://concernedcitizensaroundmurphy.blogspot.com/2010/08/public-notice-proposed-settlement.html

The United States Department of Justice, United States EPA, Wisconsin DNR and Louisiana DEQ have proposed a settlement agreement with both Murphy Oil's domestic refineries. US EPA is expected to announce the lodging of the Consent Decree soon, followed by a public comment opportunity, before entry in Wisconsin Court. For more information on the US EPA National Petroleum Refinery Initiative program:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/oil/

SDT Waste and Debris Services, LLC AI # 153141

Request for comments of the July 7, 2010 Proposed Settlement with
SDT Waste and Debris Services LLC (AI # 153141)

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B0brISkNUPw2ZDk5ZThiYjYtODlkZS00YjNlLTljZTYtOGY1NjgzZmQ1NWJm&hl=en

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B0brISkNUPw2MDllZjY5MjUtMDkzMC00NTIyLTllMmEtNmRmMWYwNTZmNDZi&hl=en

Exxon's Chalmette Refining, LLC AI # 1376

Request for comments on the July 16, 2010 Exxon's Chalmette Refining, LLC
Proposed Part 70 air permit modification (AI # 1376)

http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/apps/pubNotice/show.asp?qPostID=5730&SearchText=Chalmette&startDate=1/1/2005&endDate=08/30/2010&category=

Murphy Oil's Meraux refinery AI # 1238

Request for comments on the July 23, 2010 Proposed Settlment with
Murphy Oil (Water Permit 2008 Compliance Order and Multi Media Compliance Order
based on inspections prior to 2006)

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B0brISkNUPw2MWY2NmZkNjMtMzI3Mi00ZDgzLWJlMzUtMzcxMjAwNjM4ZjQ2&hl=en

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B0brISkNUPw2ZDgwMzk3YTgtMzU3NS00YTQxLWEwMmMtODJiYTc1MWNhNmI0&hl=en

Request for comments on the July 23, 2010 Proposed Murphy Oil Hazardous Waste
PostClosure Care Plan (land treatment units)

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B0brISkNUPw2YzgwOGVmN2ItZGQ5OC00MjgxLWI4OWEtYzAzNjU0NGNlZjkx&hl=en

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B0brISkNUPw2ZTY4YTM1MTUtZWZiMC00M2ZhLWFkNGEtMzRhOTkxZjczN2Y4&hl=en

https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=19bXvfkHG58gu6KtK_YK5m4IzgoH-XRYbig82GkOjRBo&hl=en&pli=1#

Notice of Request for Murphy Oil to submit application for Solid Waste in Ponds,
Secondary Storm Water Basin Permit

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B0brISkNUPw2OWYyMTRmMjUtNmRiMC00ZDQ2LTk5Y2QtZjA0ODM2YzRmZGQ5&hl=en

Murphy Oil's 1999 Waste Permit link (LDEQ website, EDMS AI # 1238)

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=17458288

Valero's Permit for Solid Waste in Ponds, Secondary Storm Water Basin (AI # 26003)

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=45867777

http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/apps/pubNotice/show.asp?qPostID=5420&SearchText=Valero&startDate=1/1/2005&endDate=8/5/2010&category=

Waste Not Want Not

The waste water treatment plant design requires flows to the ponds and canals which will never fully meet LPDES requirements. [*] This is a violation of the Clean Water Act.

AND, it's completely avoidable.

In fact, the permit does not require sampling of the waste flow from the waste treatment facilities (south of Judge Perez) to the conveyance ditch which feeds the ponds (north of Judge Perez). The only sample of this flow is after it has been diluted with the ponds and before it is discharged into the local canals.

The applicant should be prohibited from ever sending chemicals or waste waters to any of the canals. The permit should prohibit -- under any conditions -- ever sending waste flows north of Judge Perez to the earthen conveyance ditches, storm water ponds or basins interconnected to the ponds, because any chemicals and materials sent north of the waste treatment facility goes into our neighborhoods and sensitive Central Wetlands.

The permit should prohibit storage and treatment of wastes north of Judge Perez. Once the refinery wastes are sent to the Secondary stormwater basins or ponds, it is impossible to send it back for treatment, because, by that time, it is already mixed with the pond's water.

Even the smallest portion of wastes will have long term effects on the ecology system. (page 13 Vol. 1)

[*] Murphy Oil USA Inc. Solid Waste permit application for secondary storm water basins or "ponds" (not yet public noticed)

Vol 1 http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=7885455&ob=yes&child=yes

Vol 2 http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=7885902&ob=yes&child=yes

The ponds discharge into the local canals, which meander through neighborhoods before discharging in the sensitive Central Wetlands, Bayou Bienvenue, and Lake Bornge. The plan to prevent the refinery process campus from flooding is to release process campus storm water through the same route; if there is a backup of storm water on the process campus, it overflows onto residential streets. The requirement to maintain the ponds with adequate freeboard is sometimes met with similar discharges. The design of the waste treatment facilities, when it rains or malfunctions is to store the harmful chemicals and wastes in an unlined ditch within very close proximity to a Church which hosts vacation bible school for children. It is impossible to send all the contaminants back from the ponds to the waste treatment facility for treatment and all these wastes and chemicals are eventually discharged into our neighborhoods or released into our air.

And it's completely avoidable by segregating process water and waste streams from storm water and instead piping malfunctions and "emergency" discharges to storage tanks, treatment ponds on the river side (away from human inhabitants), or into the river itself.

Allowing storage and partial treatment of the wastes in the storm water ponds exposes our residents to harmful and carcinogenic chemicals. Discharges have a lasting effect on the estuaries and environment.

DEQ must consider alternatives to sending chemicals and wastes into the canals and alternatives to storage of chemicals and wastes north of Judge Perez.

UPDATE MARCH 2012
DEQ concluded (page 80) that by providing personal income for the facility's permanent and contract employees outweigh the environmental costs.
http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8330751&ob=yes&child=yes

Public Meetings

Tuesday November 15, 2011 6:30pm

The monthly public meetings are open to the public and scheduled to convene on the third Tuesday of the month at the former Murphy Oil Administration Building, 1615 East Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette. .
*Updates on EPA Consent Decree Provisions
*Ambient air monitor station

http://lena.providenceeng.com/Default.aspx

The new air monitor on Ventura Drive in Chalmette samples our air for benzene, toluene, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide and other chemicals. The monitoring results post on the public website: http://lena.providenceeng.com/Default.aspx

Murphy Oil has also provided computer access in the public library.

Preservation Priority

The Villere Plantation was listed as a War of 1812 Preservation Priority in the 2007 American Battlefield Protection Program Report to Congress. "The priorities indicate which sites, in the opinion of the National Park Service, merit immediate preservation action, which need ongoing preservation action, which require additional study, and which are best suited for commemoration rather than preservation."

http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/Rev1812_Final_Report.pdf

The recent EPA Consent Decree with Murphy Oil agreed to a conservation servitude for the Villere Plantation land area of the crop fields drainage machine. The conservation servitude unfortunately expires in approximately 7 to 10 years along with the consent decree.

http://concernedcitizensaroundmurphy.blogspot.com/2011/04/villere-plantation-ruins.html

Islenos