Concerned Citizens Around Murphy

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Air Bus Visit

The LDEQ conducting mobile air monitoring around the Murphy Oil facility with its mobile air monitoring laboratory (MAML). The air monitoring occured during a time when the Meraux facility was operating at reduced rates. Citizen's Report during air bus visit.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSWEN847820100805

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=49773525&child=yes

According to LDEQ's report, the wind direction with respect to the MAML’s location was opposite from the required direction.

Although residents have been concerned with the emissions during flaring events, the MAML’s focus was on the waste water treatment plant and conducted during a time of no flaring and no odors. There is no verification from LDEQ regarding whether or not the WWTP was operational on the test dates nor is there information regarding the biosolids sludge press operations.

The MAML had a power failure which hampered data collection and thwarted the VOC post sampling calibration. VOCs are volatile organic compounds and have no colour, smell, or taste. VOCs include a very wide range of individual substances, such as hydrocarbons, including benzen and toluene.

None the less, the highest level of H2S was 4.2 ppb or 0.0042 ppm.

Remember, 10 ppb = 0.01 ppm

And

“EPA set the safe exposure level at 0.00014 ppm to protect sensitive people such as children and the elderly.”
http://ohsonline.com/articles/2007/10/human-health-effects-from-exposure-to-lowlevel-concentrations-of-hydrogen-sulfide.aspx

Hopefully the air bus will return on a day where the refinery is flaring and the residents are sick from the offsite effects.

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=49811633&child=yes

Air Bus Sample Results

There is reason to believe the refinery was not operating at capacity due to a catalyst changeout. August 2, 2010 was an unusually quiet, good air day

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=49773525&child=yes

Citizen's Report during and after Air Bus visit.

Friday, October 15, 2010

chronic exposure

coma and death can occur at exposure levels as low as 50 ppm--

Human Health Effects from Exposure to Low-Level Concentrations of Hydrogen Sulfide
EXPOSURE to high levels of hydrogen sulfide gas is a well-documented and understood hazard. OSHA and NIOSH standards have long recognized this acute risk with appropriate short-term maximum exposure levels for workers. However, long-term, chronic exposure to low levels of hydrogen sulfide is not as well understood.
To read the complete article, please go to:

http://ohsonline.com/articles/2007/10/human-health-effects-from-exposure-to-lowlevel-concentrations-of-hydrogen-sulfide.aspx

The article continues:

“Kilburn and Warshaw (1995) concluded neurophysiologic abnormalities were associated with average H2S concentration levels of 10 ppb with peaks of 100 ppb in a neighborhood of exposed residents.”

Remember, 10 ppb = 0.01 ppm

And

“EPA set the safe exposure level at 0.00014 ppm to protect sensitive people such as children and the elderly.”

The community air monitors at our only high school (known as Chal_High site) have recorded H2S readings as high as 58 ppb or 0.058 ppm. click here for link to report which also documents a school site in Lower Algiers (across the river from the ExxonMobil Chalmette refinery) whose air monitor recorded H2S readings as high as 91 ppb or 0.091 ppm. This Lower Algiers monitoring station site is known as Entergy and was   dismantled in 2008 in preparation for Hurricane Gustav. It was never restored. Lower Algiers is an under-served, economically disadvantaged neighborhood.

The Joe Davies school playground (known as the Meraux site) and the Bluebird Park neighborhood playground (known as the Chal_Vista site) also record hydrogen sulfide in ppb.

This morning, the Joe Davies school playground’s hydrogen sulfide exposure level was as high as 6 ppb or 0.006 ppm. (Add two hours to the displayed time in order to obtain the correct time.)

The World Health Organization (WHO 1981) advises “ambient concentration levels should not exceed 5 ppb, with a 30-minute averaging time.”

The community air monitors’ readings are accessible at the Louisiana Dept. Of Environmental Quality’s website right hand column On Air menu , select ‘site data’, select Meraux or Chal_Vista.   Also available at this link

Hydrogen sulfide is a poisonous gas.  It has been found in some drywall materials. Residents with contaminated drywall have reported nose bleeds and other health effects from the offgasing of H2S inside their homes.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

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

Monday, October 11, 2010

TOWNHALL MEETING OCT 26th Q & A on HOSPITAL

The Hospital Service District will conduct a Q & A Session at an evening community townhall meeting on Tuesday October 26, 2010 at 7pm in the Council Chambers. The HSD is requesting a property tax millage; the voter referendum is on the November 2nd ballot.

For More Information: http://www.stbphsd.org/index.html

The HSD Board meets every other Wednesday evening at 7pm.

Link to excerpts from Financial analysis .

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Public Comment Opportunity

There are two Public Comment Opportunity(s) on the US EPA Consent Decree with Murphy Oil.

Notice in Federal Register

http://www.justice.gov/enrd/ConsentDecrees/Murphy_Oil_USA_Federal_Register_Notice.pdf

US EPA 30 day Comment Opportunity from October 6, 2010 to November 5, 2010

Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and either e-mailed to pubcomment-ees.enrd@usdoj.gov or mailed to P.O. Box 7611, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20044–7611, and should refer to the matter as United States, et al. v. Murphy Oil USA, Inc., DOJ Ref. No. 90 - 5 - 2 - 1 - 09186

Louisiana DEQ 45 day Comment Opportunity thru December 6, 2010
Submit written comments to the LDEQ, Office of the Secretary, Legal Affairs Division, Post Office Box 4302, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4302 Attn: Dwana C. King, Attorney, Legal Affairs Division. dwana.king@la.gov Ref: Settlement Number SA-AE-10-0071; Enforcement Number MM-CN-02-0015 or email SPOC@la.gov with same contact and reference.

During the EPA 30 day public comment period, the proposed agreements may be viewed on this site:

http://www.justice.gov/enrd/4575.htm

http://www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html

The Consent Decree is posted in the LDEQ EDMS under AI # 1238 document 7673947 or at this link

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=7673947

or, AFTER the LDEQ Public Notice expected this week, the Consent Decree will be posted on the LDEQ website at www.deq.louisiana.gov by selecting upper menu Divisions, Enforcement, and Settlement Agreements. Also at this link http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/DIVISIONS/Enforcement/SettlementAgreements/2010.aspx

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Murphy Oil says
the sale is on track to be a done deal by the end of the first quarter next year.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Murphy Oil Crude Oil spill contamination lingers

contaminated soil and ground water at former St Mark's Church and School site

lingering crude oil contamination 5 years after Murphy Oil crude oil spill

(I personally hope the school board does more extensive testing).

Recent soil and ground water testing results at former St. Mark's Church and School Site, where St. Bernard Parish School Board is planning another elementary school.

----levels exceeded RECAP screening standards for non-industrial land use for TPH-DRO, TPH-ORO and three PAH compounds: Benzo(a)anthracene, Benzo(b)flouranthene, and Benzo(a)pyrene

---the RECAP screening standard protective for groundwater was exceeded for the PAH compund 2-methylnaphthalene

LDEQ EDMS link

sample results
Incident 125885

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=49214009

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=49229670

these links may be more accessible

http://www.scribd.com/doc/38533680/Soil-Sample-Results-Former-St-Marks-Site-8-19-2010-49214009

http://www.scribd.com/doc/38533735/08-23-2010-Soil-Samples-Above-RECAP-49229670

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SOS St Bernard

The Port of New Orleans wants to change our quaint quiet neighborhoods into an industrial wasteland. There are more suitable locations and alternative regional options that would better serve Louisiana and our nation in international container terminaling. It doesn't take much imagination to picture what thousands of daily 18 wheeler trucks will do to the only two roads in St Bernard Parish, or how the increased rail traffic will contribute to the unacceptable night trains and lack of rail infrastructure. #SOStbernard https://www.facebook.com/SoStBernard/posts/pfbid0ytfGpvgfRVDxqyiKky76GUN8of7H3H4muajw91o75onZBFZ8ncZxdeUiyz7E53qel

We all need to do our part

_______ ________ ________ ______ Paraphrasing another Council member's comments on sulfur dioxide issue. Our community has made tremendous strides to get where we are today. We are the fastest growing parish in Louisiana. That accomplishment took a lot of effort from the federal, state and local governments. But the credit mostly belongs to our residents. Those who chose to return and rebuild, and to our new residents who believe that we have something special to offer. And we do. Since the construction of the main hurricane protection wall, the fear of a storm surge (like Katrina) has been minimalized. Our residents recently voted to fund our local government's take over management of the internal storm water system, and we are taking steps to improve our ability to handle major rain events. But one factor that is beyond our control that could have a devastating impact on our ability to grow, and retain residents, is the environment we live in. That's where the role of LDEQ and EPA is so important. You see, we are a RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY that happens to have a couple of industrial residents. I say that because I hold industry as accountable to our community as I do our residents. I hold EPA and the LDEQ to the same standards. We don't have the technology, nor the expertise to handle environmental matters on our own. We will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that our community continues to grow and prosper, we just need EPA to do their part. A community that has economic development, but is losing residents, is not a community. That's not who we are. That's not where we want to go.

It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood; if they be repealed or revised before they are promulgated, or undergo such incessant changes that no man, who knows what the law is today, can guess what it will be tomorrow. Law is defined to be a rule of action; but how can that be a rule, which is little known, and less fixed?"

-- James Madison, Federalist #62

Public Participation

http://www.cleanwatershedcampaign.org/public-participation/

Over the years, this would be a familiar model of public participation. If
the panel was critical, its life was usually brief. Citizen oversight of one of
Michigan’s most powerful Fortune 500 companies would not be popular with
regulatory authorities, elected officials or more importantly, the Dow Chemical
Company......

Is this yet another exercise in futility or is it the finality so many of us
hope has arrived?

Do we participate in good faith? Eight years of Dow’s tactics of denial and
delay, eight years of frustration at the state’s impotence. Can the federal
government succeed? Can

the CAG succeed? Each individual active in this clean up will have to answer
these questions for themselves. I for one am not prepared to let any
opportunity to hold Dow and the EPA accountable slip away.

Terry Miller, Chairman Lone Tree Council

Land Use Plan Proposed

.

The St. Bernard Parish Government is proposing a new parish-wide Master Land Use Plan. Funding for this endeavor may be the Murphy Oil Crude Oil Spill "Cy Pres" Fund, according to the former Chairman of the Planning Commission. Councilmembers indicated they would have community meetings in each district for resident input and public information on the proposed changes to zoning and landuse throughout the parish.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/123449388/SBPG-Cy-Pres-Funds-Request-for-Master-Land-Use-Plan

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

FOREVER GREENSPACE
Read OUR VISION

Our neighborhoods will no longer be referred to as the Murphy Oil buyout area, but rather will remain residential properties of the Floral Estates, James Place, Despaux and Ventura, and Sandra Park Subdivisions in the community of Chalmette, St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana

The neighborhoods around Murphy Oil's Louisiana refinery in Meraux have been revitalized since as early as Fall 2005 and are a vibrant part of the Southeast Louisiana community of St Bernard Parish which has experienced rapid repopulation and rebuilding, due to the spirit and commitment of returning residents.

We want what any other St. Bernard Parish neighborhood would want; clean air, clean water, and uncontaminated soil; and for families and friends to live peaceful lives. As we restore our homes and revitalize our community we are preserving the integrity of our residential neighborhoods and improving our quality of life.

We join with our neighbors for neighborhoods to effect the ever changing decisions that empact our community by encouraging citizen particpation and providing advocacy for all residents who are committed to return, rebuild and remain in St Bernard Parish Louisiana

Read more here
Jacob Drive Firestation and Murphy Oil Refinery Expansion

A petition is being circulated asking the St. Bernard Parish Council and Administration to oppose the sale of the Jacob Drive Fire Station to Murphy Oil Meraux Refinery.

Comprehensive plans based on Fire Insurance Rating Determinations for the placement of Fire Stations throughout St Bernard Parish are paramount to both fire protection level and 'first responder' response time and should be the predominate factor in this decision. Because these determinations are not yet available since the August 28, 2007 fire rating review, Summary No. 2037 has been tabled since August 2007 (see item #15 on the Agenda 08/21/07 ).

Should the Jacob Drive Firestation ever be taken out of service, the property should not be sold to the Murphy Oil Meraux Refinery for Expansion of facilities.

Please join us in opposing this sale by signing the petition and contacting your council representative. Fire Protection Level and 'first responder' response time are a priority.

Remember, the house you save may be your own.

To sign the petition contact CCAMLA1@gmail.com or

download the petition atSAVE OUR FIRESTATION

Letter to LDEQ (Jan. 24, 2008)

Your time and attention to this ongoing sediment problem is appreciated.

To our knowledge those properties on Lena Drive South were never seeded. For the life of me I cant understand why they just wont plant grass already; or at least grass seeds or plant grass sodding on the curb side of the property (in accordance with local parish ordinances which no parsh compliance officer seems to want to enforce on this project). Regardless, your efforts within your jurisdiction should bring a solution that residents have been asking for since the summer; keep the mud out the street and especially out of the storm drains.

Please keep in mind that what the corporation terms a buyout zone, we call home. It is our neighborhood, revitalized since the flood and crude oil spill. It is not a construction zone and its not for sale. Its a subdivision and we expect this corporation and its employees to demonstrate the same level of respect to its new neighbors that it would want in their own hometowns (where ever that maybe).

Thankyou again.

CCAM and Rediscover District C

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Friday, October 15, 2010

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Monday, October 11, 2010

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Friday, October 1, 2010

Blog Archive

Public Comments

SOS St Bernard

SO2 Nonattainment

EPA EJScreen Tool

We all need to do our part

citrus grove

Villere drainage 1930's

Villere sluice gate ruins

Villere ruins 2007

commercial incursion

proof in permit

Pages

Meraux flare

Public Participation

hazardous site closed

siren testing

new link

SO2 Alerts

mending wall

Land Use Plan Proposed

Land Use Plan

LIBRARY

Wetlands Project

Editorials

Waste Not Want Not

Public Meeting on Water Discharge Permit

Public Meetings

Preservation Priority

Community Gardens

residents rights violated

Murphy Oil Meraux refinery(MOMR)

Chalmette Vista Corridor

Public Library

neighborhood canal

2010 Summer Vacation Starts Soon

Science for Sale

RDC District Sweeps

Fire Protection District C

Villere Plantation

Our Vision

Islenos

Community Connections

Refinery Accident Sickens Neighbors

SO2 standards to change

Tanks to be replaced

Lab Construction Site