Home Search Emissions Pollutants About the Database


Valero (1238), Meraux

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #96245
State Police #07-02522
Accident Date2007-05-16
Report Date 2007-05-23
Follow-up Date 0000-00-00
Follow-up: No Information Provided

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Benzene12hTank 20-1 at the MOUSA Meraux TerminalNONOYES48.0 pounds
n-Hexane12hTank 20-1 at the MOUSA Meraux TerminalNONONO26.0 pounds
Cyclohexane12hTank 20-1 at the MOUSA Meraux TerminalNONOYES24.0 pounds
Isooctane12hTank 20-1 at the MOUSA Meraux TerminalNONOYES9.0 pounds
Toluene12hTank 20-1 at the MOUSA Meraux TerminalNONONO123.0 pounds
Ethylbenzene12hTank 20-1 at the MOUSA Meraux TerminalNONOYES32.0 pounds
Xylene12hTank 20-1 at the MOUSA Meraux TerminalNONONO168.0 pounds
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene12hTank 20-1 at the MOUSA Meraux TerminalNONOYES47.0 pounds
Gasoline12hTank 20-1 at the MOUSA Meraux TerminalNONOYES18,900.0 gallons

Accident Classified As:

Cause of Problem: Human Factors

this episode was the apparent result of human error. The terminal received a transfer of gasoline from the Refinery via pipeline on 5/15, after which a Terminal Operator failed to follow written procedures to secure two valves that isolate the Terminal from the Refinery. The next evening, while the Refinery was loading gasoline at the river dock on the same pipeline, Tank 20-1 overfilled

Discharge Preventable -

Notes/Remedial Actions

There is no information as to whether this incident was preventable or not - I assume it was since it is due to human error that seems preventable. Remedial Measures - St. Bernard Highway and the adjacent rail line were closed until 7:30 (am or pm?) - Approximately 450 barrels of material was released from the tank into the diked containment area. MOUSA immediately shut down the loading operations to the Dock and initiated emergency response actions in accordance with the TerminalSPCC Plan. MOUSA secured the tank, deployed firefighting foam for vapor suppression, recovered free liquids with vacuum trucks, and will remove contaminated soil. Free liquids were returned to the refinery for re-processing. Contaminated spill respon