oily water release to neighborhood canal

According to DEQ Single Point of Contact, the Murphy Oil Meraux refinery called in an emergency release of oily water into the neighborhood canal, the 20 arpent, at Jacob Drive. Clean up crews were on the scene most of today.

The discharge was from the same municipal storm drainage pipe which released a white opaque discharge on December 7 2009 (shown below). The rain event last night was the third time that residents are aware of Murphy Oil not containing its storm water runoff.

more photos - oily water release

Permit Modifications and Objections

In August 2009, on behalf of Concerned Citizens, Tulane Environmental Law Clinic submitted comments to LA DEQ asserting Murphy Oil's SO2 emissions calculations incorrect . If the SO2 and VOC emissions were appropriately calculated, "the proposed modifications to Murphy Oil USA Inc's Title V air permit will result in emission increases above thresholds for 'Prevention of Significant Deterioration 'and will therefore require additional controls to protect public health and welfare."


In October 2009, LA DEQ issued the final permit modification and on December 10, 2009, students at Tulane University's Environmental Law Clinic sent, on behalf of CCAM, a formal Petition to EPA Administrator to Object Permit .

Murphy Oil's permit modification is to construct and operate a BenFree Unit to adhere to a new EPA mandate for lower benzene in gasoline products. Concerned Citizens believe clean fuel shouldn't cost air quality .

Comprehensive Zoning Code Changes

St Bernard Parish Council Meeting Tuesday 4pm

Public Hearing and Council Vote to adopt Comprehensive Zoning Changes

National Database - Refineries

Envirnomental Integrity Refinery Database



http://www.environmentalintegrity.org/pdf/newsreports/Refinery%20Dabase%20WEB%20-%20120309.pdf

Common Ground

Louisiana Bucket Brigade
Refinery Efficiency Initiative

Dept of Environmental Quality Presentation

Tuesday Jan 12 2010 10 AM -


Council Conference Room


8201 West Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette




CCAM will host a Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Presentation on the St Bernard Parish Ambient Air Montoring Systems through DEQ's Community Outreach's EnvironSchool.

Read the LA DEQ 2009 Report - St Bernard Air Monitoring Project and the departments recommendations to shutdown some of the monitors.

The primary purpose of this project was to investigate what caused odors, if odor causing compounds are air toxic and if their concentrations in the ambient air in the Chalmette area are in compliance with the sate and federal ambient air quality standards. In addition, the DEQ was fully to use its facilities to monitor for ozone and fine particulate matter PM2.5 and investigate other compounds such as benzene and 1,3-butadiene that cause no odors at lowered concentrations but are of great health concern for long time exposure even in lower concentrations.