Our children deserve safe and healthy places to play

Update May 2017


St. Bernard Parish Recreation Parents

· 9 hrs ·

I didn't do a hard count, but it seemed like about 50 people attend the parish president's town hall tonight (a few people came and left). So for the 1800 plus of you that didn't make it... here is a 30,000 ft view recap.
1) Valero has "committed" approx 75K towards a park for Versailles. This would be located in the boundaries of their [oil spill] zone. The Versailles board is currently looking at options in conjunction with parish government.

Update June 2017
FB Post

In a community where local officials knew or should have known the tank farm had numerous issues before the hurricanes of 2005, it is no surprise that some would misrepresent an industrial solid waste buffer area as a safe site selection for recreational baseball. To purposely bring children, women of child bearing age, and the elderly (grandparents) to this location is just wrong.  

Reposted from October 2016

Before making any decisions [on new ballpark locations], an independent laboratory should conduct environmental and health risk analysis for heavy metals, PAHs, and other toxins in the soil, ground water, and air. 

All soils at parish playgrounds and ball parks should be screened for lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and nickel, and, depending on the results, additional testing and soil removal should be conducted. Initial screenings cost as little as $10 per sample.

St Bernard Parish Recreation ball park proposal for area of Murphy Oil spill in close proximity to the solid waste surface impoundments, located just east of this site recommendation.


Notice the oil booms in the earthen conveyance ditch.  As an existing solid waste unit, the facility receives a waiver from the State required buffer zone between the solid waste units and its property line. There is another State required buffer zone between solid waste units and nearby churches. The waiver or exemption does not mention future site selections for a recreation sports park.

this is the same area where oily waste water can be held for WWTP malfunctions or rain events

North of Judge Perez between Jacob and Despaux and Judge Perez and Missouri

Our children deserve safe and healthy places to play.

Do we have that much surplus money in the local budget to afford a brand new ball park?  Especially after investing about $22 million in Val Reiss?

If we are going to develop a brand new ball park, shouldn’t we explore all options?  Other sites include the ball field next to the communication towers, or acquisition of vacant land along St Bernard Highway between Octavia and Plaza or between Lena and Corinne.  The Octavia-Plaza site is for sale, was a former trailer park, and has access from both highways (Judge Perez and St Bernard).

Funding sources could include the $3 million Murphy oil spill Cy Pres fund, the Chalmette Refining settlement funds, grants and donations. These funds should also be considered for improvements to our existing playgrounds and ball parks, such as Violet park, or for the development of a skate board park. 

Before making any decisions, an independent laboratory should conduct environmental and health risk analysis for heavy metals, PAHs, and other toxins in the soil, ground water, and air. 

All soils at parish playgrounds and ball parks should be screened for lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and nickel, and, depending on the results, additional testing and soil removal should be conducted. Initial screenings cost as little as $10 per sample. 

Valero Energy Meraux refinery expansion plans

Valero Energy Meraux refinery expansion plans includes administration building in adjacent neighborhood.   https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0brISkNUPw2dVVIQUlBSm9fNTA/view?usp=sharing

 "The land use designation is to accommodate adjacent Valero Refining expansion."

The Public Hearing is Tuesday February 23rd at 4pm in the SBPG Council Chambers. 




Below is from a 2/16 meeting of the planning executive committee, which meets to receive such proposals, but does not have public hearings. 


Hopefully Valero sends the appropriate representatives Tuesday so it can be a public meeting with resident input and not a PR meeting .... residents in this neighborhood have gone that route, more than once, for many years. Let's keep all discussions in public so we all know what's being negotiated. 

The homes on Despaux Drive are noted Residential properties currently being sought out by Valero? (Not on critical path for admin bldg completion if buffer zone can fall on side of block already owned by Valero).  There are also two houses on the river end of Despaux and one house on the river end of Lena that Valero indicates in commercial use.


It is unclear what this proposed land use map change really is; it doesn't seem this could be the entire plan, because there were several references about other inherent parts of the plan that are not in this proposal. 

Report for 2012 on Louisiana's refineries

Louisiana Bucket Brigade
http://www.labucketbrigade.org/

http://www.scribd.com/doc/183372910/Mission-Zero-Accidents
Mission: Zero Accidents. Why Cooperation to Reduce Accidents at Louisiana Refineries is Needed Now. Report has the objective to end refinery accidents.

• At issue with the accident reports from 2012 (the most recent data available) is underreporting by refineries as well as sloppy reporting. Refineries provided no information about 11% of their accidents. In Shreveport, 12% of Calumet Refining’s reports were not filed until community members called the state agency and forced the reporting.
• “It is essential that refinery incidents get reported because that is one of the first steps in protecting the employees and the community,” said USW International Vice President Gary Beevers. Accident emissions have increased over the last several years.
• "There is nothing more fundamental for workers' and communities' right-to-know than a robust system of reporting chemical releases, and making the data easily available," noted Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH, policy co-chair of the Occupational Health & Safety Section, American Public Health Association.  "LABB's report confirms what workers and residents have known for years----petrochemical companies too often skirt the laws for reporting serious incidents." 

http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/11/louisiana_refineries_and_assoc.html


Other issues with 2012 Reporting and LDEQ Inspections

Example One -  Sleepless night for the neighbors on April 13, 2012.

 

This was a night of loud, flaring-associated noises emanating from the refinery, causing residents throughout the neighborhood to lose sleep.  Residents report to DEQ at one-thirty in the morning April 14th 2012 that the noise from the refinery is audible in the house and kept people awake throughout the early morning hours of April 14, 2012. 

 

DEQ reports in EDMS 8395781 surveillance on April 14 2012 finds no odor, no flaring or loud noises.

DEQ reports search of its own database revealed no reports of releases or upset conditions. 

DEQ reports review of information provided during community meeting found no deviations for the time of the complaint. 

DEQ noted no further action at this time.

DEQ EDMS 8395781 posted in late May 2012.

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8395781&ob=yes&child=yes

 

    

 

FACT:  There was an emergency shutdown on April 10 2012 due to power failure. The disturbing noise audible in homes was during the ‘startup’ flaring on April 13^th – April 14^th.

FACT:  The refinery submitted an unauthorized discharge for Incident T 138647, in EDMS document 8387256 reporting the episode occurred from approximately 9:30 on April 10 2012 to 8:00 on April 14 2012 for a duration of 94.5 hours and over 4,000 pounds of Sulfur Dioxide. 

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8387256&ob=yes&child=yes

FACT:  Flare emissions were "off the chart" as shown in community meeting slide numbered 9.  (Shown in slide on page 9)

Coincidentally, the ambient air monitor was not working during the startup of April 13th - April 14th 2012.

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Example Two:  noxious odors effect neighbors across the river

noxious odors from the last 4 - 5 days in the early morning hours

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8395779&ob=yes&child=yes

DEQ does not survey area on other side of river.  Instead, DEQ survey of Jacob Drive on December 14 2011 detects strong odor on Jacob Drive, similar to a burnt chemical odor.  In April 2012, after DEQ’s five attempts to received information from the facility, the refinery responded with information on two process unit upsets on December 10^th and December 13th 2011 and that these events did not exceed permit limits. 

Without reviewing plant logs or refinery CEMS data, DEQ concludes these events did not exceed permit limits or reportable quantities.  No further action at this time. 

FACT: The refinery submitted an unauthorized discharge for Incident T 135917, in EDMS document 8266494 and followup in EDMS document 8286717, reporting a release of 3,500 pounds of sulfur dioxide and 35 pounds of hydrogen sulfide, resulting from operator error.

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8266494&ob=yes&child=yes

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8286717&ob=yes&child=yes

 

FACT:  Sulfur dioxide reading at Valero's Ventura Drive ambient air monitor on measured an average of 33 ppb SO2 with a maximum reading of 176 ppb SO2; hydrogen sulfide levels were 5 ppb H2S.  (Shown on page 4 of slides)

FACT:  The refinery reported several air permit exceedances from both the December 10^th  FCC unit shutdown  and the December 13^th 2011 NHT debutanizer overhead valve opened to flare resulting in a hydrocarbon flaring event. . VOC and other pollutants released from the South Flare in excess of limits.

 FACT:  DEQ has access to CEMS data upon request.  There is a recent request from residents for a copy of this particular CEMS data from the community meeting.   Notes from the community and CAP meetings indicate several air permit exceedances, including: sulfur dioxide at the sulfur recovery unit at 500 ppm (permit limit 150 ppm), hydrogen sulfide at fuel drum 300 ppm (permit limit 162 ppm), and over 1,000 pounds of sulfur at the flares. CAP meeting information is not made available to the public. .

  

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Example 3:     resident reports fuel odor in air on January 29 2012 and on January 30 2012 flaring with associated noise, odors (gaseous and fuel like at times with mix of sulfur)

http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8383825&ob=yes&child=yes

 

FACT:  DEQ surveillance Feb 2 2012 did not note any odors. 

DEQ inquiry by email to refinery; reply that the facility didnot receive complaints for noise or odor, so unable to verify or dispute these claims.  Further the email states ..."reviewed all of our data from our CEMS, and there were no upsets or permit deviations."  Again, without further review,  DEQ concludes no further action at this time.

 

FACT:  CAP meeting notes permit exceedances reported from ALKY unit shut down and propane tanks venting to flare for 8 hours, including permit exceedance for VOC’s and other pollutants at the South Flare.  CAP meeting notes are not available to the public.

FACT: Valero’s Ventura Drive ambient air monitor measured hydrogen sulfide at 24 ppb H2S.

 

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Example 4:  500 pounds sulfur dioxide released yet not a reportable quantity (RQ).

Valero refinery subtracts baseline sulfur emissions from upset releases to determine “RQ” amount of sulfur dioxide and permit limits.

FACT: May 2 2012 Valero plant effected by power distribution lightning strike. This incident resulted in excess emissions of sulfur dioxide above the Reportable Quantity at the flares and SRU’s. http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8485733&ob=yes&child=yes

FACT:  May 8, 10, and 11, 2012 odors emanating from plant enters homes and cause health effects. DEQ surveillance of area the following week does not result in notation of odors, and DEQ states facility did not report any exceedances or permit violations. http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8705259&ob=yes&child=yes http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8705251&ob=yes&child=yes

FACT:  Valero flares emitted over 600 pounds sulfur dioxide. (page 13 0f slides)

FACT: Valero doesnot consider this a RQ because at the time of the upset the baseline emissions for sulfur dioxide were 300 pounds.  Valero subtracted 300 pounds from the pollution releases.  Valero not only concluded the release was not a reportable quantity, but that it was also below some sort of variable permit limit. (Shown on page 13 of slides) 

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neighbors talk safety

Living Around Valero

'Its not getting better. It's getting worse."

hazmat calls and highway closures are not uncommon

http://www.wwltv.com/news/St-Bernard-Highway-Reopens-After-Oil-Spills-Neighbors-Talk-Safety-229337591.html

hydrogen sulfide

Hydrogen Sulfide is a poisonous gas.  Chronic, long term exposure should be limited to EPA's recommended daily exposure level of 0.0014 ppm or 1.4 ppb.  All too often hydrogen sulfide levels in the neighborhood fail to meet this standard. Some of the higher hydrogen sulfide readings at the Valero Energy Meraux plant community air monitor:

 :

10_4 3am 4am 5am readings are 8 ppb, 13 ppb, and 9 ppb H2S respectively 

10_2 7am reading 8 ppb H2S

10_1 1am and 2am  readings both 10 ppb H2S

9_30 4am and 5am readings both 9 ppb H2S

9_29 6am and 7am readings are 10 ppb and 11 ppb H2S

9_28 6am and 7am readings are 7ppb and 10 ppb H2S

9_27 from midnight to 9am the readings are 9 ppb 10 ppb 17 ppb 12 ppb 10 ppb 12 ppb 13 ppb 13 ppb 11 ppb and 7 ppb H2S

9_26 5am to 8am readings are 19 ppb 21 ppb 14 ppb H2S

9_25 5am and 6am  readings 9 ppb and 8 ppb

9_24 5am and 6am both readings are 5 ppb

good fences and beautification

In April 2013 ExxonMobil was notified of certain code violations at the pipeline property which abuts a residential neighborhood.  ExxonMobil allows Valero Energy to park on top the crude oil and hydrogen pipelines. According to information  from a public records request, the parties agreed to submit a site plan for compliance by end of June 2013;  the site plan has never been received. 

Residents await the Administration's support to preserve the integrity of the neighborhood; an easy, inexpensive solution  was suggested in 2009 and the children's and grandchildren's safety is too important to ignore.


…  there is no landscaped buffer or fence between the parking area, the parking area was paved without meeting necessary application requirements, and there appears to be a building located less than 100 feet from the property line...... 

Local Zoning Code Chapter 22-4-3.1 (4) Along the lot lines of the parking area abutting on the residential district there shall be established and maintained a landscaped area having a minimum width of four (4) feet which shall be maintained in a healthy growing condition. A privacy fence which screens the parking lot from the public view shall be erected and be no less than six (6) feet nor more than seven (7) feet in height. Lighting facilities when provided shall be so designed that light is reflected away from residential properties.