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Motiva Enterprises (1406), Norco

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #125580
State Police #10-04571
Accident Date2010-08-10
Report Date 2010-10-07
Follow-up Date 0000-00-00
Follow-up: No

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
1,3-Butadiene17 hUTLX 950070NONOYES49.0 pounds

Accident Classified As:

Cause of Problem: Seal or Gasket

The root cause of the release was faulty rail car equipment (rail car UTLX 950070). The gasket on the seat of the relief valve had deteriorated, resulting in a leak. 1,3 Butadiene was released.

Discharge Preventable - Yes

Report states that "the released has been classified as preventable."

Notes/Remedial Actions

Firewater was applied to the leaking car to suppress the vapors. The area surrounding the rail car was sampled for 1,3butadiene and hot zone was established. 5h llm after leak, The gasket on the seat of the relief valve was replaced reducing the leak by 99%. 11h and 49m later it was tightened stopping the leak. To confirm there was no more leaks, rail car UTLX 950070 was soap tested. The material was transferred out of the leaking rail car and off site. Measures were take with the rail scheduler to minimize the time that rail cars will sit on site without being shipped. No LDEQ report. Refinery letter only.