benzene level updates

 

"Refineries with adjusted benzene levels over 9 micrograms per cubic meter, measured at their fencelines and calculated on an annual rolling average every two weeks, are required to conduct root-cause analyses to determine the source of the benzene emissions and then take action to reduce the pollution."

“Requiring companies to publicly disclose their fenceline monitoring results and to find and fix benzene pollution sources appears to be working,” said Eric Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Environmental Integrity Project. “Although we and others are sometimes critical of EPA, this is an example of a success story of regulations working to helping to protect neighborhoods near refineries from a dangerous pollutant.”

This is a good first step, and hopefully all oil refineries make a commitment to maintain the lower benzene levels.

PBF Energy Chalmette has demonstrated Improved Benzene Levels in recent months, yet for its annual rolling average, PBF Energy Chalmette was 2nd highest in a national ranking by Environmental Integrity Project

https://environmentalintegrity.org/news/cancer-causing-benzene-pollution-from-u-s-refineries-down-significantly/

The benzene level at PBF Energy's Chalmette refinery was over the "action level" from early 2019 to early 2021 , and, has been above the "action level" for the past two years, "with an adjusted annual average of 14.67 micrograms in December." According to the Environmental Integrity Project report, PBF Energy's oil refinery in Chalmette has the second highest average in 2023.

PBF Energy's refinery in Chalmette, St Bernard Parish Louisiana is within a 3-mile radius of over 58,700 people, 39% low income, and 60% minority. St Bernard is also non-attainment for the one-hour health standard for sulfur dioxide, and several areas of St Bernard Parish are exposed to a 95% to 99% national percentile diesel exhaust pollution (NATA diesel PM).

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (AIRC) is part of the World Health Organization (WHO). One of its major goals ts to identify causes of cancer. IARC classifies diesel engine exhaust as "Carcinogenic to humans." According to EPA, in addition to the lung cancer risk, there is a significant potential for non-cancer health effects as well, based on the contribution of diesel particulate matter to ambient levels of fine particles. Exposure to fine particles contributes to harmful respiratory and cardiovascular effects, and to to premature mortality.

air quality alerts

 Both the Chalmette Vista and the Chalmette-Meraux areas of St Bernard Parish were subjected to toxic air emissions with in the last several days.

Valero Energy's Meraux refinery experienced a days-long flaring event that at times emitted dark clouds and high flames. LDEQ's network of air monitors does not include a NAAQS comparable source classified air monitor in that area; given wind conditions and lack of appropriate monitoring, it is uncertain at this time if this incident caused an exceedance of air quality standards. There was no alert made to the community. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdgg39tXdxI

A few days later, heavy industrial sources further west in the Chalmette Vista area emitted toxic air emissions as measured at the LDEQ Chalmette Vista monitor as high levels of sulfur dioxide and an exceedance of air quality standards for the same. On April 14 2024, the Chalmette Vista air monitoring station measured sulfur dioxide one hour readings above the NAAQS standard of 75 parts per billion (ppb). The data from the monitoring station indicates the one hour average spiked above 77 ppb and the 5-minute interval levels of sulfur dioxide were as high as 119 ppb.

https://airquality.deq.louisiana.gov/Data/Site/CHALMETTEVISTA/Date/2024-04-14

https://internet.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/DIVISIONS/AIR-MONITORING/AIR-MONITORING-DATA-WITH-INTERVAL-5-OR-10-MINUTES  (select Chalmette Vista site and date range 04 14 2024 to 04 14 2024)

According to research reporting at ProPublica, Chalmette Louisiana residents in the neighborhoods near the PBF Energy Chalmette refinery and the Rain Carbon CII Chalmette calciner have "an estimated excess lifetime cancer risk from industrial sources of about 1 in 17,000."  "Over the five years ProPublica analyzed, the excess risk here has ranged from as low as 1 in 28,000 to as high as 1 in 12,000. In 2018, the risk was 1 in 12,000."

Meanwhile, lung health is at critical risk. A study by the University of Massachusetts Political Economy Research ranks Chalmette Elementary School as low as the Third National Percentile for air quality, and nearby Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Pre-4 - 12th Grade Charter School for Science and Technology in Orleans Parish Lower 9th Ward in the 10th National Percentile for air quality. 

Our children deserve better. Changes to the State SIPs would result in immediate and significant improvements in air quality, public health outcomes, and quality of life, especially for residents who reside on the other side of the fence from these polluting plants.

The Most Detailed Map of Cancer Causing Industrial Air Pollution in the U.S.  by Al Shaw and Lylla Younes, additional reporting by Ava Kofman  November 2 2021 Updated March 15 2022

https://projects.propublica.org/toxmap/

these wetlands are worth preserving

 

preserve and protect our wetlands

Parish residents want a public greenspace area with natural areas left pristine and well parochial interests from another parish want heavy industrial use for a pie in the sky narrative. The public greenspace also protects the residential district's historical elementary school, preserves wetlands, and assists with flood waters retention plans.

Save Our St. Bernard #stopportnola SOS Save Our St Bernard Group Forum https://www.facebook.com/groups/850309112536823/

Clearly, this massive terminal does not belong in residential

The State of Louisiana and our nation can progress in international terminaling, container and intermodal rail ports at other more suitable site selections, without expropriation, environmental racism, or the deleterious public health, safety, welfare, environmental, and socio-economic impacts.  

PBF Energy Chalmette finally improving again

 

In communities already overburdened with air pollution and frequent weather events, “every single unauthorized emission event is consequential”, every excess emission amount is harmful.

As EPA concurrently reviews several parts of LDEQ’s air regulations’ SIP (State Implementation Plan to comply with the Clean Air Act), it should implement a comprehensive approach, including permanent solutions for both the sulfur dioxide and benzene levels, and consideration of the cumulative effects of the many different chemicals in the air we are forced to breathe, the public health, human risk factors, and quality of life consequences.

 

PBF Energy's Chalmette Refining benzene update

Under EPA's "Refinery Rules" for benzene emissions, LDEQ sent letter dated February 16 2024 EDMS document 14192807 to PBF Energy's Chalmette refinery because it's rolling annual average Δ C of 14 ug/m3 benzene as of December 27, 2023 was still above the ΔC 9ug/m3 action level; the two week sampling period ΔC 1.8 ug/m3 for December 12 through December 27, 2023 shows improvements, finally; its annual rolling average for the year 2023 ranged from Δ C of  21.9 ug/m3 to Δ C of 14.67 ug/m3 

• The EPA's benzene action level is 9 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) for the annual average Δc. An exceedance of the action level is not a violation of the regulation, rather it requires the refinery to conduct a root cause analysis and take corrective action to reduce emissions.

PBF Energy's Chalmette fence line benzene monitors have reported elevated benzene levels for a number of years now; some of the higher 2-week sampling data reported as high as 120 ug/m3 benzene 2-week average. There is no public access to the real time benzene levels. The public can access the averaged data on the EPA online dashboard website; use the upper menu to select "refinery name", scroll to lower right, select the tool "monitors" for display of the monitor locations at selected refinery. Switch or toggle that tool to "monitor trend" for display of the two week averages at each monitor since 2019. 

Although as of 3rdQ 2023 the EPA's online dashboard illustrates some improvements at PBF Energy's Chalmette refinery, there's plenty room for improvements to protect public health, especially given PBF Energy's close proximity to vulnerable populations.

In Chalmette, PBF Energy is adjacent to a local Sheriff Department's substation, adjacent to the parish jail, adjacent to the pedestrian / vehicle traffic river ferry, just tenths of a mile from OLPS Elementary School and less than a mile from Chalmette Elementary; it's across the street from family friendly neighborhoods and less than half a mile from a number of mobile home / trailer court neighborhoods. 

Our children deserve better. PBF Energy could be a good neighbor, lower its benzene emissions, and invest in St Bernard -- invest in the enhanced advanced fence line monitoring PBF Energy provides at some of its other refineries. Here are just two examples: select upper menu "monitors" and select chemical.   https://www.torranceair.org/ 

https://www.fenceline.org/martinez/

https://concernedcitizensaroundmurphy.blogspot.com/2024/02/benzene-update.html

PBF Energy benzene update

 PBF Energy's Chalmette Refining benzene update

Under EPA's "Refinery Rules" for benzene emissions, LDEQ sent letter dated February 16 2024 EDMS document 14192807 to PBF Energy's Chalmette refinery because it's benzene fence line monitoring data for 4th Quarter 2023 is above the annual rolling average of  Δ 9ug/m3. At this time there is no public access to 4thQ 2023 data. Below graph displays PBF Energy's Chalmette refinery's average benzene concentration difference for the previous year Sept 2022 through September 19 2023. A red flag indicates a value above the 9ug/m3 action level.

LDEQ requested detailed information on 4thQ 2023 2-week sample results, identified causes of all the benzene levels above Δ9ug/m3, and detailed information on root cause analysis / corrective action plans. That information is forthcoming.

• The EPA's benzene action level is 9 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) for the annual average Δc. An exceedance of the action level is not a violation of the regulation, rather it requires the refinery to conduct a root cause analysis and take corrective action to reduce emissions.

The 2-week benzene sample results for each monitor along an oil refinery fence line can be viewed on EPA's benzene fence line monitoring online dashboard, using the upper menu, select the refinery name, scroll down to the monitor tool / map and toggle to monitor trend. EPA's dashboard has not yet updated PBF Energy's Chalmette refinery's 4thQ 2023 2-week sample results. 

PBF Energy's Chalmette fence line monitors have reported elevated benzene levels for a number of years now; some of the higher 2-week sampling data reported as high as 120 ug/m3 benzene 2-week average. There is no public access to the real time benzene levels.

Although as of 3rdQ 2023 the EPA's online dashboard illustrates some improvements at PBF Energy's Chalmette refinery, there's plenty room for improvements to protect public health, especially given PBF Energy's close proximity to vulnerable populations.

In Chalmette, PBF Energy is adjacent to a local Sheriff Department's substation, adjacent to the parish jail, adjacent to the pedestrian / vehicle traffic river ferry, just tenths of a mile from OLPS Elementary School and less than a mile from Chalmette Elementary; it's across the street from family friendly neighborhoods and less than half a mile from a number of mobile home / trailer court neighborhoods. 

Our children deserve better. PBF Energy could be a good neighbor, lower its benzene emissions, and invest in St Bernard -- invest in the enhanced advanced fence line monitoring PBF Energy provides at some of its other refineries. Here are just two examples: select upper menu "monitors" and select chemical.   https://www.torranceair.org/ 

https://www.fenceline.org/martinez/

https://concernedcitizensaroundmurphy.blogspot.com/2024/02/benzene-update.html

Natural gas exports increase domestic costs

 If we have an abundance of Louisiana natural gas and increasingly more extraction of Louisiana natural gas, then why are domestic natural gas prices increasing?

From Forbes Reporting: 

The recent pause on pending permits to export LNG to non-FTA countries could save US consumers up to $18 Billion in new annual energy costs. The more LNG facilities and the more LNG export terminals built along the Gulf Coast, the more upward pressure on domestic prices, because the oil and gas companies sell to the highest bidder, "regardless of what that costs U.S. consumers." That certainly is not in the public's interest, and not in the interest of the U.S. economy.

""And while increased energy security for European allies in the face of Russian aggression has been used to justify building these LNG export terminals, it’s a red herring. New LNG export terminals take years to come online, doing nothing for near-term needs but locking in long-term climate pollution and consumer costs.""

U.S. Gas Prices Could Spike 14% Without Biden’s Pause On New LNG Export Terminals

Energy Innovation: Policy and Technology

Contributor We are a nonpartisan climate and clean energy policy think tank.

Silvio Marcacci

Contributor Senior Director, Communications

where not to put a park

Time and again, we have seen the lengths previous administrations and council members went to satisfy the demands of the oil and gas industry; even pushing people out of their homes in the name of "greenspace", only to gift multiple zoning changes that allowed industrial plant incursion into the neighborhood in exchange for the promise of a ball park or other community investment.  

Before deciding on a ballpark location adjacent to an oil refinery hazardous waste unit and within close proximity to its tank farm and refining units, comprehensive soil, ground water, and air sampling results should be made publicly available and studied; to ignore the public health implications in its alternative site selection process only makes the parish further liable. Recent ground water test results indicate higher chemical levels in the area of the solid waste earthen conveyance ditch, impoundments, and settlement ponds. This hazardous solid waste processing area is adjacent to the vacant "greenspace" lots that some believe should be utilized for recreational use, including youth sports. [1]  Public access to the real time benzene fence line monitoring data should be obtained, and the plant should install additional fence line monitoring for its other chemical emissions, also with public access to the data, similar to the fence line monitoring provided at its facilities in other states. [2]

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