Yesterday Clorox announced that it will convert all of its U.S. facilities (CA, GA, FL, IL, MD, TX) from ultra-hazardous chlorine gas to safer liquid bleach. Clorox CEO Donald Knauss said this conversion will, “strengthen our operations and add another layer of security.” For more information on their plans go to:http://investors.thecloroxcompany.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=420583
This is a smart move by Clorox but there at least 284 additional examples chemical facilities that have converted since 1999 in 47 states. For a list of safer chemical facilities in your state and how many people are no longer at risk, see the Center for American Progress(CAP) report at:
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2006/04/b681085_ct2556757.html/chem_survey.pdf
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
gasoline release to river
an unknown amount of gasoline was released to the Mississippi River last week as reported to the United States Coast Guard. The incident was discovered on 27-OCT-09 at 11:55 local time. USCG report Oct 27 2009
DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT CALLER STATED THERE IS A LEAK FROM A TRIM CONDENSER LOCATED ON THE FACILITY. MATERIAL IS BEING DISCHARGED INTO THE COOLING WATER RETURN POND WHICH LEADS TO A CANAL THAT LEADS TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
on the same day, residents reported a distinct fuel smell of gasoline, however the state agency's followup call reported there were no problems, no violations and no smells of any kind as indicated in the plant's operating logs which were reviewed in the hours long inspection of October 28 2009
DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT CALLER STATED THERE IS A LEAK FROM A TRIM CONDENSER LOCATED ON THE FACILITY. MATERIAL IS BEING DISCHARGED INTO THE COOLING WATER RETURN POND WHICH LEADS TO A CANAL THAT LEADS TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
on the same day, residents reported a distinct fuel smell of gasoline, however the state agency's followup call reported there were no problems, no violations and no smells of any kind as indicated in the plant's operating logs which were reviewed in the hours long inspection of October 28 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
C A R E for St Bernard
Pollution Reduction Plan Discussion in C A R E Forums
Permitting issues regarding emissions were a great concern to residents. Discussed in detail at the March 29th meeting with experts from different air quality and health fields, St. Bernard Parish residents may be exposed to more air pollutants than the average American citizen.
During recent years Exxon Mobil was charged by the Eastern District of Louisiana (Federal Judge Sarah Vance) to have violated the Clean Air Act 2,629 times. The Concerned Citizens Around Murphy group delivered "notice of violation" letters to the Meraux Petroleum Refinery, the LDEQ and the EPA noting "more than 130 dates, beginning Oct. 15, 2003, and ending Jan. 30, 2008, in which they allege the plant violated the Clean Air Act by releasing pollutants such as sulfur dioxide in excess of its permit limits" (Warren, July 3, 2008).
Citizens seemed to take legal actions due to a lack of clear communication from industry representatives and government regulators.
Permitting issues regarding emissions were a great concern to residents. Discussed in detail at the March 29th meeting with experts from different air quality and health fields, St. Bernard Parish residents may be exposed to more air pollutants than the average American citizen.
During recent years Exxon Mobil was charged by the Eastern District of Louisiana (Federal Judge Sarah Vance) to have violated the Clean Air Act 2,629 times. The Concerned Citizens Around Murphy group delivered "notice of violation" letters to the Meraux Petroleum Refinery, the LDEQ and the EPA noting "more than 130 dates, beginning Oct. 15, 2003, and ending Jan. 30, 2008, in which they allege the plant violated the Clean Air Act by releasing pollutants such as sulfur dioxide in excess of its permit limits" (Warren, July 3, 2008).
Citizens seemed to take legal actions due to a lack of clear communication from industry representatives and government regulators.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Flaring Reliability Program Update
Flaring Reliability Project
Those new chemicals are in our air again; perhaps entering your home?
Smell Something Stinky ??
REPORT IT !!
Fill Out an Odor Log and Call, Write or Visit Louisiana DEQ Online
Residents are still pursuing answers to why there is so much recurring flaring.If you would like to help, please log your experiences with date, time, odor, smoke, noise, vibration, and flare observations and send to Louisiana DEQ spoc@la.gov or call 1-888-763-5424 or go to online services -- incident reports at http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/
Monday, October 26, 2009
Revitalized Neighborhoods
as neighbors we revitalized our neighborhood, not only the structures but also the 'community'
subsequent to these efforts, parts of the neighborhood have been placed in a politically decided buyup. While the adjacent areas may soon be the new fenceline, subjected to even more emissions from yet another pending expansion ?
the balance shifts further towards industry, with the out-of-town corporation reaping all the profits, our local government enticed with the promise of a larger tax base and future donations, and the residents taking all the environmental and health burdens.
What we are asking -- at the very least -- is for our local officials to acknowledge, if not actively protect, our rights -- as we have the same rights as any other neighborhood -- and to especially protect our right to secure tenure. and in protecting everyone's right to return to live in the Gulf Coast Region, we help secure our own rights to remain.
this website link to photography work by Sam Kittner (below) focuses on the human effects of such adroit or artful maneuvers by hazardous industry(s).
Before the Bull-doze Revielletown, Louisiana
Project Description Buyout: The Breakup of Communities in the Shadow of Hazardous Industry
http://www.kittner.com/buyout.html
http://www.kittner.com/docu_09.html
http://www.kittner.com/environmental_documentary.php
""business as usual without the press of local liability""--Kittner
subsequent to these efforts, parts of the neighborhood have been placed in a politically decided buyup. While the adjacent areas may soon be the new fenceline, subjected to even more emissions from yet another pending expansion ?
the balance shifts further towards industry, with the out-of-town corporation reaping all the profits, our local government enticed with the promise of a larger tax base and future donations, and the residents taking all the environmental and health burdens.
What we are asking -- at the very least -- is for our local officials to acknowledge, if not actively protect, our rights -- as we have the same rights as any other neighborhood -- and to especially protect our right to secure tenure. and in protecting everyone's right to return to live in the Gulf Coast Region, we help secure our own rights to remain.
this website link to photography work by Sam Kittner (below) focuses on the human effects of such adroit or artful maneuvers by hazardous industry(s).
Before the Bull-doze Revielletown, Louisiana
Project Description Buyout: The Breakup of Communities in the Shadow of Hazardous Industry
http://www.kittner.com/buyout.html
http://www.kittner.com/docu_09.html
http://www.kittner.com/environmental_documentary.php
""business as usual without the press of local liability""--Kittner
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