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Valero (1238), Meraux

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #98371
State Police #07-04395
Accident Date2007-08-01
Report Date 2007-08-09
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
Sulfur Dioxide90hFLARE - Relief Valve on the MDH High Pressure Stripper / South FlareNOYESNO1,110.0 pounds

Accident Classified As:

Cause of Problem: Process Upset

on 8/3/2007, MOUSA discovered that a pressure relief valve on the MDH High Pressure Stripper was opening to the South Flare on an intermittent basi

Discharge Preventable - Yes

Notes/Remedial Actions

This incident is listed as preventable even though the only information included in that section is that there were no mechanical failures or human error. MOUSA's report states that they suspect that ambient weather conditions (90 degrees, looping East wind at 0-5 mph) contributed to the episode, preventing typical dispersion of emissions to upper levels. Murphy received 3 citizen calls on 8/2/2007 for odor. They investigated each complaint and found transient odors consistent with trace ats of sulfur dioxide. They examined process conditions and found no upset conditions and no elevated levels of sulfur dioxide emissions from the facility - as noted by the numerous continuous emissions monitoring systems associated with heaters, boil