Letter to all CEO's of Louisiana Petroleum Refineries

August 29, 2014 Letter from Pete's Articles to CEO's of all oil refineries in Louisiana



RE:  NON ETHANOL GAS IN LOUISIANA DISAPPEARING

Gentlemen:

I am writing to each of the major gasoline producing refinery CEO’s which have crude oil refining facilities in Louisiana to plead with you to help us with more availability of conventional, non ethanol gasoline in Louisiana.

Approximately three years ago, there were five (5) refineries in Louisiana that manufactured and sold non ethanol gasoline to service stations through the State’s 64 Parishes.  These were Murphy Oil Refinery in Chalmette, Chalmette Refining in Chalmette, Marathon Oil Company in Garyville, Placid Oil Company in Port Allen and ConocoPhillips Oil Refinery in Westlake.  These refineries provided an ample volume of non ethanol gas to meet consumer’s needs throughout Louisiana.  HOWEVER, since that time, Valero purchased Murphy Oil in Chalmette and now manufacture only ethanol fuels at that facility, Chalmette Refining discontinued the manufacture and sale of non ethanol gas from their refinery in early June and lastly, Marathon Oil discontinued the manufacture and sale of non ethanol gas from their Garyville refinery in mid 2012.   READ MORE

As you know, south Louisiana is highly susceptible to hurricanes.  In 2012, Hurricane Isaac hit south Louisiana and flooded over 6,000 homes in St. John Parish where I live.  Two weeks before the hurricane’s path was realized, I took my garden tiller out of storage to till a few rows in my small home vegetable garden to prepare for planting my fall crops.  When I pulled the recoil to start the engine, the recoil rope broke. I took the tiller to a small engine repair shop near my home. When I entered the shop yard, I counted over 50 gas powered home generators in his yard awaiting repairs.  The shop owner told me that customers began flooding him with request to repair their generators when the path of the hurricane became known since their generators would NOT start.  The last time they used them in the last power outage with ethanol gasoline and they would now NOT start.  He had to hire extra workers (in addition to his normal staff of four) to take the carburetors apart and clean and re-assemble them as quickly as possible so the customers would have the generators available when power was lost from this hurricane.  And, this was just ONE repair shop. This is just another example of the problems we experience in Louisiana, particularly in south Louisiana when conventional, non ethanol gasoline is not readily available.
 READ MORE

ExxonMobil Coke Barn

Pictured above in January 2011

The rising Mississippi River levels have affected barge traffic.  Among the many effects on industry along the river, one refinery in Chalmette is now using its old, dilapidated petroleum coke barn for storage. Although Louisiana DEQ is allowing use of the open air coke barn, a compliance order was issued earlier this month ordering the roof repairs within six (6) months. Residents are concerned about the health effects of the toxic dust in their lungs and are frustrated with lack of local enforcement.

Pictured below in February 2011

Perhaps you've noticed the blight and disrepair to the ExxonMobil coke barn on St Bernard Hwy.

ExxonMobil is said to be the richest corporation on the planet Earth, yet they disrespect our community.

 At first, ExxonMobil claimed the new business model  did not include the coke barn, but wanted to keep the Title V air permit current for the coke barn in the event economic conditions changed.  Louisiana DEQ agreed and allowed the coke barn to continue to collapse while still under the regulatory permit.  It didnot seem that local government took action.

Several Citizens have been concerned  about the dilapidated condition of the ExxonMobil coke barn and the threat to life and property should a wind storm carry a roof panel into adjacent neighborhoods. Not to mention the petroleum coke dust  and its affect to our lungs.  Although ExxonMobil claimed the coke barn was emptied , the coke dust would remain unless every nook and cranny were washed and wiped down.

Today, this May 13 2011 document posted to the LDEQ EDMS under AI # 1376.

  ExxonMobil in Chalmette is now using the coke barn due to barge traffic issues with the rising Mississippi River. LDEQ has issued a compliance order ordering repair of the roof within six (6) months. ...... SIX MONTHS of lung damage in the opinion of residents.

If local ordinances do not provide for protection of health and safety from industrial companies, new legislation should be written that will provide protection.

Pictured below May 2011

Another variance granted by Louisiana DEQ due to the rising river and potential for flooding includes flexibility in storage tanks and a variance for flaring:

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=7947393&ob=yes&child=yes

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=7950757&ob=yes&child=yes

ExxonMobil Chalmette refinery hydrogen sulfide release

Bloomberg News reports  on October 4, 2010 offsite air monitoring detected 21 to 40 parts per billion.

Our community's prayerful thoughts are with this young man and his family during this tragedy.

Post Note:  State-Police-Hazmat-Incident-Initial-Report