workers matter

Susan Criss, The Daily News

http://www.galvnews.com/opinion/columns/free/article_05dc5316-b59b-11e4-9779-8361315590f0.html

"These companies invest in chamber of commerce activities and advertising dollars to prove their support of their neighboring communities. They send representatives to chamber and charity events to show they care. Talent, resources and dollars are spent promoting their corporate good will and good citizen images.

Yet they refuse to spend money maintaining refinery machinery in decent enough condition to prevent their workers from being killed. ……………………………….. in Texas City on March 23, 2005 the BP plant exploded in one of the worst refinery accidents in United States history. Fifteen workers died and more than 180 were injured. Some of the injured were burned beyond recognition.

[reports] … revealed a culture of complacency toward worker safety at that refinery contributed to the disaster. Worker fatigue resulting from excessive overtime hours was another problem cited.

Why are the USW members on strike? Because their workers do matter."

rain event flooding occurs too

Union of Concerned Scientists
February 25 2015 Gretchen Goldman, lead analyst center for Science and Democracy


“Our results were startling,” said Christina Carlson, the UCS report’s first author, “all five refineries analyzed face risks from storm surge and Valero’s Meraux facility may even be inundated by 2050 because of sea level rise alone.


http://blog.ucsusa.org/stormy-seas-rising-risks-new-analysis-shows-undisclosed-climate-change-impacts-at-oil-refineries-639







Here in St Bernard Parish, Louisiana the Valero Meraux refinery had repeated reports of processing campus flooding during afternoon rain showers, which can total up to eight inches and cause overflow flooding from the refinery into our neighborhoods.  The last couple of years have been droughts so its not easy to determine if so called improvements to storm water management have actually made a difference.  We wont know until the next rain event flood.

worker safety

United Steelworkers issue strike notices in Louisiana

by bobby lamb

http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/news/11660572-123/united-steelworkers-issue-strike-notices


The steelworkers say the sticking point doesn’t involve wages, but rather staffing and workloads, health and safety issues and health care.


“We’re committed to reaching a settlement that works for both parties,” said USW Vice President Tom Conway, “but adequate staffing levels, worker fatigue and other important safety issues must be addressed.”


“Our members are speaking loud and clear,” said Gary Beevers, USW International vice president who oversees the union’s oil sector. “If it takes a global fight to win safe workplaces, so be it.”

alarms and siren

Valero Energy's Meraux petroleum refinery signaled alarms for plant workers due to an unexpected fire in the R O S E unit, which was reported extinguished within ten minutes.


Residents were the first to notify local fire and sheriff departments of the reported worker evacuation of Area 2 of the refinery.  If the plant alarms automatically signaled the local authorities, that would bring about much needed improvements for community safety.

public participation

Public Participation


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


The EPA organized a community group to evaluate the success of remediation [by Dow Chemical]. It met a few times, provided critical commentary, and was dropped as Dow completed its EPA required action. 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...... Dow itself had (has) a community advisory panel. Its goal was (is) to get honest feedback from the community as to how it was performing as a corporate citizen. Mary Sinclair, Midland citizen, science and communication adviser to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, didn’t last a year on the panel. She recognized that the company was not forthcoming in information requests or responsive to suggestions – she left.


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

no off site impacts, no reportable quantities

no off-site impacts at the plant and no emission permit exceedances

February 2013 releases at Valero cause sulfur dioxide levels to spike (readings of 103, 109, 128, 138 and 180 ppb) http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/02/st_bernard_parish_sulphur_diox.html

October 2013 crude oil spews onto St Bernard Highway (workers evacuated into neighborhood, no offsite impacts) http://www.nola.com/traffic/index.ssf/2013/10/valero_accident_sprays_crude.html

March 22 2014 ROSE unit startup (no reportable quantities, no violations of permits)  http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/03/valero_energy_corps_meraux_ref.html

April 21 2014 Benzene saturation unit explosion (the issue is the emissions are aromatic; it’s only a detonation) http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/04/valero_energy_corps_meraux_ref_1.html

November 2014 MDH unit startup and blown hole in the south flare (Valero noticed a tear in the flare and this will decrease combustion efficiency; MDH unit makes kerosene and diesel) http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/11/valero_energy_corps_meraux_ref_2.html

November 2014 startup of new hydrocracker vessel   …………………………………………………………..

what happens without sidewalks

school students in Louisiana are forced to walk in the street because not all neighborhoods are afforded sidewalks



tragically students in Orleans Parish and more recently in Breaux Bridge have been killed while walking in the street to the bus stop.  Residents of Breaux Bridge hope the incident lease to changes, like sidewalks

http://www.wfla.com/story/27180821/breaux-bridge-address-street-safety

"It's the time to come together as one for the greater good of all of the families that have suffered in this endeavor."" Councilman Menard also told us that although state law doesn't require sidewalks. Since he's been in office he has mandated that every new sub division or development have sidewalks.



In St Bernard Parish, instead of maintaining the newly installed FEMA project sidewalks, parish officials have allowed removal of sidewalks, even claiming an agreement allows sidewalk removal as long as the sidewalk is not currently used as a bus stop. Officials would not answer why students must now walk in the street to get to the bus stop nor have they responded to a public records request for a copy of the agreement to remove sidewalks.

One property owner that has been allowed to remove sidewalks is Valero Energy, a profitable corporation that recently announced third-quarter 2014 earnings of $1.1 billion.  


Certainly they can afford to be a good neighbor and replace sidewalks and improve pedestrian safety!