Sunday, August 5, 2012
citizens can make a difference
There is a way to have jobs and a healthy environment, but we can't rely on industry or state or federal policy makers. Citizens have to show up, ask questions, and protect their rights.
comment on Susan Eleuterio article BP Versus the Citizen
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Wednesday, August 1, 2012
air toxin samples
Results of air toxin samples taken in the Floral Estate neighborhood at the Ventura Drive air monitor
7/11/2012 sample date
received 7/16/2012
analyzed 7/16/2012
accessible here http://lena.providenceeng.com/Reports/CAMs%20Lab%20Data%207-11-12.pdf
and also under documents at this link:
http://lena.providenceeng.com/hourly.aspx
Acetone 6.5 ppbv 15 ug/m3
Benzene 1.1 ppbv 3.5 ug/m3
Carbon disulfide 0.37 ppbv 1.2 ug/m3
Chloromethane 0.65 ppbv 1.3 ug/m3
Cyclohexane 0.18 ppbv 0.62 ug/m3
Dichlorodifluoromethane 0.43 ppbv 2.1 ug/m3
Ethanol 4.9 ppbv 9.2 ug/m3
Ethylbenzene 1.8 ppbv 7.8 ug/m3
Ethyl Acetate 1.5 ppbv 5.4 ug/m3
Heptane 0.27 ppbv 1.1 ug/m3
Hexane 1.9 ppbv 6.7 ug/m3
Hexane 1.9 ppbv 6.7 ug/m3
Isopropyl Alcohol 0.74 ppbv 1.8 ug/m3
Methyl ethyl ketone 0.55 ppbv 1.6 ug/m3
Methyl Isobutyl Ketone 0.15 ppbv 0.61 ug/m3
Methyl Tert Butyl Ether 1.1 ppbv 4.0 ug/m3
Propylene 2.2 ppbv 3.8 ug/m3
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.34 ppbv 1.7 ug/m3
2,2,4-Trimethylpentane 0.12 ppbv 0.98 ug/m3
Toluene 2.6 ppbv 9.8 ug/m3
Trichlorofluoromethane 0.46 ppbv 2.6 ug/m3
m,p-Xylene 4.2 ppbv 18 ug/m3
o-Xylene 2.1 ppbv 9.1 ug/m3
Xylenes (total) 6.3 ppbv 27 ug/m3
7/11/2012 sample date
received 7/16/2012
analyzed 7/16/2012
accessible here http://lena.providenceeng.com/Reports/CAMs%20Lab%20Data%207-11-12.pdf
and also under documents at this link:
http://lena.providenceeng.com/hourly.aspx
Acetone 6.5 ppbv 15 ug/m3
Benzene 1.1 ppbv 3.5 ug/m3
Carbon disulfide 0.37 ppbv 1.2 ug/m3
Chloromethane 0.65 ppbv 1.3 ug/m3
Cyclohexane 0.18 ppbv 0.62 ug/m3
Dichlorodifluoromethane 0.43 ppbv 2.1 ug/m3
Ethanol 4.9 ppbv 9.2 ug/m3
Ethylbenzene 1.8 ppbv 7.8 ug/m3
Ethyl Acetate 1.5 ppbv 5.4 ug/m3
Heptane 0.27 ppbv 1.1 ug/m3
Hexane 1.9 ppbv 6.7 ug/m3
Hexane 1.9 ppbv 6.7 ug/m3
Isopropyl Alcohol 0.74 ppbv 1.8 ug/m3
Methyl ethyl ketone 0.55 ppbv 1.6 ug/m3
Methyl Isobutyl Ketone 0.15 ppbv 0.61 ug/m3
Methyl Tert Butyl Ether 1.1 ppbv 4.0 ug/m3
Propylene 2.2 ppbv 3.8 ug/m3
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.34 ppbv 1.7 ug/m3
2,2,4-Trimethylpentane 0.12 ppbv 0.98 ug/m3
Toluene 2.6 ppbv 9.8 ug/m3
Trichlorofluoromethane 0.46 ppbv 2.6 ug/m3
m,p-Xylene 4.2 ppbv 18 ug/m3
o-Xylene 2.1 ppbv 9.1 ug/m3
Xylenes (total) 6.3 ppbv 27 ug/m3
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
sulfur in Meraux
Elevated sulfur dioxide readings at Joe Davies Elementary school as measured by Louisiana DEQ's Meraux site air monitor.
Louisiana DEQ's Meraux site air monitor readings for sulfur dioxide this morning with wind direction around 258 degrees:
Add two hours to display time. Readings accessible at this link this link, select site data, select Meraux, select date.
3am 11.3 ppb SO2
5am 14.1 ppb SO2
6am 25.4 ppb SO2
7am 15.4 ppb SO2
Louisiana DEQ has stated levels of sulfur at 12 parts per billion SO2 trigger headaches and adverse quality of life. Residents have reported both flares in use at Valero in recent days.
St. Bernard Parish Air Quality Report July 2012
Louisiana DEQ's Meraux site air monitor readings for sulfur dioxide this morning with wind direction around 258 degrees:
Add two hours to display time. Readings accessible at this link this link, select site data, select Meraux, select date.
3am 11.3 ppb SO2
5am 14.1 ppb SO2
6am 25.4 ppb SO2
7am 15.4 ppb SO2
Louisiana DEQ has stated levels of sulfur at 12 parts per billion SO2 trigger headaches and adverse quality of life. Residents have reported both flares in use at Valero in recent days.
St. Bernard Parish Air Quality Report July 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
July 2012 air quality
July 2012 preliminary air quality numbers as measured by the community's three air monitors :
LDEQ's Ch_Vista and Meraux sites (under 'site data') and Valero's Ventura site.
In the Month of July, residents of St. Bernard Parish suffered from:
Levels of hydrogen sulfide higher than the 1.4 ppb recommended daily exposure. Nine days of hydrogen sulfide levels at or above 10 ppb H2S and two days of hydrogen sulfide levels at or above 30 ppb H2S, with the highest reading at 78 ppb H2S at Valero's Ventura site. 30 ppb H2S is the State of California's limit for H2S. Louisiana doesnot have a health standard for H2S.
Three Ozone Action Days where the ozone measured more than 75 ppb O3.
Three days of health standard exceedances for Sulfur Dioxide where the EPA sulfur health standard of 75 ppb SO2 was exceeded; the highest reading of 134.9 ppb SO2 as measured at LDEQ's Ch_Vista site. Twenty-two days where the sulfur level exceeded 12 ppb SO2, the level LDEQ stated triggered headaches and adverse quality of life.
Five days of particulate pollution PM10 at or above 100 ug/m3; the highest reading measured at Valero's Ventura monitor at 129 u/m3 PM10. The national air quality standard for PM10 is 150 ug/m3.
Nine days of fine particulate pollution PM2.5 levels above the standard of 35 ug/m3; the highest reading at LDEQ's CH Vista site of 102 ug/m3 PM2.5
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LDEQ's Ch_Vista and Meraux sites (under 'site data') and Valero's Ventura site.
In the Month of July, residents of St. Bernard Parish suffered from:
Levels of hydrogen sulfide higher than the 1.4 ppb recommended daily exposure. Nine days of hydrogen sulfide levels at or above 10 ppb H2S and two days of hydrogen sulfide levels at or above 30 ppb H2S, with the highest reading at 78 ppb H2S at Valero's Ventura site. 30 ppb H2S is the State of California's limit for H2S. Louisiana doesnot have a health standard for H2S.
Three Ozone Action Days where the ozone measured more than 75 ppb O3.
Three days of health standard exceedances for Sulfur Dioxide where the EPA sulfur health standard of 75 ppb SO2 was exceeded; the highest reading of 134.9 ppb SO2 as measured at LDEQ's Ch_Vista site. Twenty-two days where the sulfur level exceeded 12 ppb SO2, the level LDEQ stated triggered headaches and adverse quality of life.
Five days of particulate pollution PM10 at or above 100 ug/m3; the highest reading measured at Valero's Ventura monitor at 129 u/m3 PM10. The national air quality standard for PM10 is 150 ug/m3.
Nine days of fine particulate pollution PM2.5 levels above the standard of 35 ug/m3; the highest reading at LDEQ's CH Vista site of 102 ug/m3 PM2.5
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Friday, July 27, 2012
MRGO is not closed
“My expectation is that we’re going to have to let the courts teach the corps of engineers phonics.”
---- Garret Graves, Chairman of Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, comment on U.S. Corps of Engineers decisions to delay restoration of MRGO
article by Mark Schleifstein
---- Garret Graves, Chairman of Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, comment on U.S. Corps of Engineers decisions to delay restoration of MRGO
article by Mark Schleifstein
Thursday, July 26, 2012
power outage shutdown/startups
Valero's Meraux refinery had an emergency shutdown and subsequent startup of several units due to a power outage on Friday July 20, 2012, according to a follow up report from Louisiana DEQ.
A downed electrical transformer is believed to be the cause of the power outage and an intensive root cause analysis is underway. Valero's subsequent startup process resulted in high hydrogen sulfide levels in the adjacent neighborhood on Saturday night, July 21, 2012. Some of the higher readings were at 78 ppb H2S, as measured by Valero's ambient air monitor on Ventura Drive, accesssible at this link.. The State of California's air quality limit for H2S is 30 ppb; the State of Louisiana does not have a health standard for H2S.
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A downed electrical transformer is believed to be the cause of the power outage and an intensive root cause analysis is underway. Valero's subsequent startup process resulted in high hydrogen sulfide levels in the adjacent neighborhood on Saturday night, July 21, 2012. Some of the higher readings were at 78 ppb H2S, as measured by Valero's ambient air monitor on Ventura Drive, accesssible at this link.. The State of California's air quality limit for H2S is 30 ppb; the State of Louisiana does not have a health standard for H2S.
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photo above of shutdown during fire at Valero refinery in Meraux, LA
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
rubber stamps
Valero Refinery - Meraux, LA shutdown production units after a fire this weekend. Damage assessment is underway and Valero will determine which units could safely remain online during repairs. That commitment to our community is appreciated.
Rain CII Carbon coke plant in Chalmette has recently experienced unexpected mechanical failure in the facility's turbine and an unexpected boiler tube rupture. But instead of a shutdown to make adequate repairs, Louisiana DEQ has granted several pollution variances. This is during a time when Louisiana DEQ's ambient air monitor has demonstrated health standard exceedances in the adjacent neighborhood for sulfur dioxide and particulate matter. Even nearby industries have reported the pollution effects from Rain CII.
It is considered a violation of regulatory permits if control measures and equipment are not installed and properly operated and maintained. Additionally, permits and variances do not authorize the maintenance of a nuisance or a danger to public health and safety.
Rain CII's Title V operating permit currently permits use of a Pyroscrubber Stack as a bypass stack for up to 500 hours per year.
In June 2011 Rain CII obtained a variance for 150 additional such bypass or "hot stack" hours due to increased production rates to keep up with customer demand since other Rain CII facilities were out of service due to the Mississippi River flooding. St. Bernard Parish residents and workers at nearby industry suffered the pollution effects.
In December 2011 Rain CII received a variance for an additional 350 hot stack or bypass hours due to a mechanical failure in the facility's turbine. In January 2012 Rain CII received a variance for an additional 350 hot stack or bypass hours due to the mechanical failure in the facility's turbine. That variance expired in February 2012.
Louisiana DEQ has designated St. Bernard Parish non-attainment for EPA's sulfur health standards and noted the exceedances are most likely majority attributed to pollution from Rain CII.
Yet, Louisiana DEQ continues to grant bypass variances and modifications to Rain CII's Title V air permit without consideration for emission reductions. Also, these variances and modifications are not being public noticed.
Now Rain CII has an unexpected boiler tube rupture requiring the facility to request additional 336 hot stack or bypass hours. Without the variance, the facility would have to do what Valero and other industries in St Bernard Parish do: make adequate repairs. That would be the right thing to do.
Yet, Lousiaian DEQ is now allowing yet another variance at the cost of our health. The July application seems to have been approved on the same day, leading residents to believe this was a rubber stamp permit approval.
http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8457292&ob=yes&child=yes
http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8454164&ob=yes&child=yes
Rain CII Carbon coke plant in Chalmette has recently experienced unexpected mechanical failure in the facility's turbine and an unexpected boiler tube rupture. But instead of a shutdown to make adequate repairs, Louisiana DEQ has granted several pollution variances. This is during a time when Louisiana DEQ's ambient air monitor has demonstrated health standard exceedances in the adjacent neighborhood for sulfur dioxide and particulate matter. Even nearby industries have reported the pollution effects from Rain CII.
It is considered a violation of regulatory permits if control measures and equipment are not installed and properly operated and maintained. Additionally, permits and variances do not authorize the maintenance of a nuisance or a danger to public health and safety.
Rain CII's Title V operating permit currently permits use of a Pyroscrubber Stack as a bypass stack for up to 500 hours per year.
In June 2011 Rain CII obtained a variance for 150 additional such bypass or "hot stack" hours due to increased production rates to keep up with customer demand since other Rain CII facilities were out of service due to the Mississippi River flooding. St. Bernard Parish residents and workers at nearby industry suffered the pollution effects.
In December 2011 Rain CII received a variance for an additional 350 hot stack or bypass hours due to a mechanical failure in the facility's turbine. In January 2012 Rain CII received a variance for an additional 350 hot stack or bypass hours due to the mechanical failure in the facility's turbine. That variance expired in February 2012.
Louisiana DEQ has designated St. Bernard Parish non-attainment for EPA's sulfur health standards and noted the exceedances are most likely majority attributed to pollution from Rain CII.
Yet, Louisiana DEQ continues to grant bypass variances and modifications to Rain CII's Title V air permit without consideration for emission reductions. Also, these variances and modifications are not being public noticed.
Now Rain CII has an unexpected boiler tube rupture requiring the facility to request additional 336 hot stack or bypass hours. Without the variance, the facility would have to do what Valero and other industries in St Bernard Parish do: make adequate repairs. That would be the right thing to do.
Yet, Lousiaian DEQ is now allowing yet another variance at the cost of our health. The July application seems to have been approved on the same day, leading residents to believe this was a rubber stamp permit approval.
http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8457292&ob=yes&child=yes
http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8454164&ob=yes&child=yes
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