surface water and storage tank issues

Troubles in the tank farm were mentioned again in a recent report noting leaked oil from piping in the former footprint of storage tank, Tank 250-3. This oil spill affected at least two egrets, according to Valero Energy’s report to Louisiana DEQ in a public document (EDMS 9962291).

Tank 250-3 was demolished by Valero Energy in 2012. However on September 29 2015 a sheen, stained soil, and two oiled egrets were reportedly observed around the section of pipe once connected to the tank. Clearing nearby vegetation revealed an intermittent leak that exceeded “Reportable Quantity”.  It is unclear how long the pipe was leaking; however, residents have repeatedly reported to LDEQ strong and distinct fuel and diesel odors during rain events.

This is not the first time overgrown vegetation was noted as presumably concealing problems that perhaps should have otherwise been detected during required inspections.  In May 2015 adjacent neighbors reported the refinery flooding their backyards.  Upon inspection, after “clearing significant vegetation”, a breach was found on the east side of the refinery pond and the damage was attributed to burrowing nutria (EDMS 9778750).

Valero Energy’s Meraux refinery was recently cited by LDEQ for not performing required monthly tank inspections from April 2014 through June 2015 (EDMS 9963957).  A 2014 LDEQ inspection at the adjacent terminal and dock found Valero Energy failed for three years to conduct annual interior float roof inspections (EDMS 9845166).

During a rain event in June 2015, Valero reported discharging nearly 7,000 gallons waste water into the neighborhood canal due to a power outage (EDMS 9811488). This neighborhood canal, known as the 40 arpent canal, is frequently fished by residents, and is slated in the new master land use plan for recreational use, including kayaking and canoes, and fishing piers. Other unauthorized discharges and reports from more recent rain events in late Summer and early Fall 2015 --- if any --- along with water samplings have not yet posted to LDEQ EDMS.  Heavy rains are expected again this week.

Valero’s predecessor, Murphy Oil, agreed in August 2015 to a settlement with the State of Louisiana for just under $23,000 in fines for the December 9 2009 release of oily water into the same neighborhood canal, the 40 arpent. The 40 arpent is pumped into the adjacent Central Wetlands, which is home to sensitive estuaries and marsh. The $22,988 amount is said to represent the DEQ’s enforcement costs; nothing was proposed to improve neither the water quality nor the quality of life in the surrounding community.  Lessons learned or business as usual ??

Valero Energy’s report for the Sept 29 2015 spill zone states that six days after the initial discover, during the evening of October 4^th, a small cofferdam was completed around the leak, containing the release. A clamp was also installed, greatly reducing flow. A larger, engineered clamp was being fabricated with expected installation mid October.   It is unclear how long the pipe was leaking; however, residents have repeatedly reported to LDEQ strong and distinct fuel and diesel odors during rain events.

From the LDEQ EDMS document: The pipe in question was partially submerged by rainwater that had accumulated in the footprint of the former Tank 250-3.  Solid boom was deployed to prevent the oil from spreading. Fire fighting foam and hydrocarbon metabolizing enzymes were applied to stained areas to minimize volatilization and odor. Oil was removed from the water with skimmer and vacuum trucks.

The pond was pumped down and the water transferred to the Refinery’s wastewater treatment plant. A small cofferdam was constructed to isolate the leaking pipe from the larger pond.  Once the pipe was fully exposed a clamp was installed over the leak. This greatly reduced the rate of the leak. A larger, engineered clamp was being fabricated. Installation expected later that week (mid October 2015).

Oil staining was observed on two egrets that had landed in the affected spill zone. Bird deterrent flashing posts were installed to prevent further contact. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries was contacted and two bird specialists were sent to the refinery. They recommended that one of the birds be captured and cleaned. As of October 6 2015 attempts to capture the bird have been unsuccessful.

There were no notifications made to the nearby neighborhood. Valero reported there were no offsite impacts. 

save our wetlands

The proof in dredging to save our wetlands.

Captain Devin 2013-05-02

http://www.lafishblog.com/the-proof-in-dredging-to-save-our-wetlands/

"In 1991 the Caernarvon Diversion was created in an effort to restore the marsh by building land, benefit the commercial fishing industry and somewhat emulate what the Mississippi used to do years ago. This is great except for one thing.

It didn’t work."

"Now our problem has been compounded in that the Army Corps of Engineers wants to build a larger diversion at Braithwaite, this one capable of putting out 250,000 cfs of water. That was not a typo! You read it right. That is a quarter million cubic feet of water per second flowing into our saltwater marsh. If Caernarvon did that much damage what would a diversion of that magnitude do at Braithwaite? Left in the hands of our government, it would destroy the marsh."

refinery rule for benzene monitors

Although this new refinery rule is good progress and a step in the right direction, we still have a long fight ahead of us. This rule will monitor for benzene, a known carcinogen.  Our problem in St. Rose has been release of the chemical hydrogen sulfide – a neurotoxin. If they’re not allowing hydrogen sulfide to be monitored, there’s obviously a bigger problem.   

Statement from Martha Huckabay, Vice President of St. Rose Community One Voice, regarding the EPA’s new Refinery Rule   http://www.labucketbrigade.org/blog/statement-martha-huckabay-vice-president-st-rose-community-one-voice-regarding-epa%E2%80%99s-new 

here today gone tomorrow

we re gonna need a tree museum

settlement for water violations

Murphy Oil agrees to a $22,988 settlement for the oil discharges into local waters.
Amount is said to represent the Department’s enforcement costs.
There is nothing proposed for the St Bernard community or the water quality.

The agreement includes settlement for the December 9, 2009 oil discharge into the local neighborhood canal, known as the 20 arpent canal, and other violations, such as failure to sample various outfalls at different times, spill into river, and failure to calibrate or perform maintenance procedures at other times.

Link to LDEQ settlement document 9880360 dated August 2015
http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=9880360&ob=yes&child=yes 

In more recent time, the new owner,Valero Energy, reported a discharge of 6,900 gallons of “treated” waste water on June 8, 2015 "due to a power outage".

LDEQ EDMS document 9811488

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=9811488&ob=yes&child=yes

The more things change the more they remain the same.

WDSU 10 Years Forward

WDSU - TV    10 Years Forward:  St Bernard Parish

"It's time to celebrate. We've got a lot of good things going on. You know, we lost a lot, but we've gained an awful lot. Again, you were here, you know what it looked like. It's a remarkable difference now."  -- Parish President Peralta

http://www.wdsu.com/katrina-10-years-forward/10-years-forward-st-bernard-parish/34951930

http://www.wdsu.com/katrina-10-years-forward/10-years-forward-st-bernard-parish-part-3/34861322

reprint

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Our Story

Concerned Citizens neighborhood association in St Bernard Parish, Louisiana, began as a means to have our voices heard in District C postKatrina. Our area captain was clearly instructed in early 2006 to 'not invite' those returning, rebuilding residents from the streets closest to the refinery. Shortly afterwards, Murphy Oil's tank farm expansion plans public noticed and the neighbors decided to form the association to address quality of life issues; more specifically those of our community's environment. CCAM members began to join with other neighbors for neighborhoods to effect the ever changing decisions that empact our community by encouraging citizen participation and providing advocacy for all residents who are committed to return, rebuild, and remain in St Bernard Parish, Louisiana.

Later we learned of the council resolution for a letter of no objection to the Army Corps of Engineers for Murphy Oil to construct this tank farm expansion on what seemed to be lower lying lands with natural waterways or wetlands. The tank farm expansion is slated for an area adjacent to established residential neighborhoods and seems to have no improvements for spill containment, storm preparedness, nor soil subsidence. So much for lessons learned.

Returning in 2005 after hurricanes Rita and Katrina, parts of our neighborhoods were not included in the oil spill maps. Murphy Oil executives went door to door to greet residents and give assurances their area had no oil, the household items were not contaminated, it was safe to clean out one's own home, and there would be no buyouts. The area was repopulated during Fall 2005 and some neighbors were actually fortunate enough to celebrate the Christmas holidays inside restored homes.Two years later a voluntary buyout would be one of the many options of a class action suit, Turner v Murphy Oil. The defendant's attorneys stated at the Fairness Hearing that the buyout properties would be a green zone buffer and the newspapers reported this as greenspace. At Community meetings and Council Meetings, it was continually and consistently purported as "greenspace". Any talk of industrial buildings and other commercial use of the land were firmly disputed by refinery representatives who insisted it would be "greenspace, that was the plan". People made agreements based on this understanding that it is this empty greenspace, now in existence, which is to function as the buffer.

Demolition of the buyup properties caused restored homes to have structural damage claims and yet another wake of destruction on our residential streets. Illegally placed cement truck weigh stations and less than best business practices added insult to injury. Only half of the sidewalks have been restored and the children are left to play in the same streets that some propose to add increased industrial traffic.

Further illuminating the local politics and poor zoning, heavy industry is still allowed within 100 feet of residential properties, however, new rental laws require single family dwellings, when rented out, to be specially permitted and spaced 500 feet apart. Noise ordinances have been updated for music speakers but not enforced for industrial sources.

Our Future, who knows. Let's just hope the levees are rebuilt to a higher level of integrity.