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ExxonMobil Chemical Plant (286), Baton Rouge

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #140470
State Police #12-03755
Accident Date2012-06-14
Report Date 2012-06-20
Follow-up Date 2012-08-14
Follow-up: Yes

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Cyclohexane3h 10mTank 21 and Rain Basin 1NONOYES1,431.0 pounds
Benzene3h 10mTank 21 and Rain Basin 1NONOYES31,022.0 pounds
Toluene3h 10mTank 21 and Rain Basin 1NONONO13,081.0 pounds
Hexane3h 10mTank 21 and Rain Basin 1NONONO2,588.0 pounds
Ethylbenzene3h 10mTank 21 and Rain Basin 1NONOYES27.0 pounds
Isoprene3h 10mTank 21 and Rain Basin 1NONOYES22.0 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)3h 10mTank 21 and Rain Basin 1NONOYES14,022.0 pounds

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

A failed bleeder plug was found at Tank 801 in the BRCP's Aromatics Tankfield. Approximately 411 barrels of steam cracked naptha reached the sewer system via this bleeder. All material was retained in waste water treatment facility. While the naphtha was being pumped to tanks #778, #26, #22 and #21, a rain event occurred, which overwhelmed the facility's ability to pump the liquid to the tanks. Therefore, the material was diverted to the Rain Basin I surface impoundment. Of the water pumped into the basin, there were 1,712 lbs of benzene and 419 lbs of toluene.

Discharge Preventable - No Information Given

Notes/Remedial Actions

The water was to be pumped to the waste water treatment plant for treatment before being discharged to outfall 001. Firefighting foam was placed on top to reduce volatilized chemicals. Half the materials spilled were recovered. All values are based on the vaporized material and represents a very small amount of loss. The material is being pumped and moved to onsite storage to facilitate recovery and treatment of the material. All recovered liquid material is being placed in tanks 778, 21, 22, and 26, all of which are properly configured and permitted to store this material. On June 14, 2012, the site began the process of understanding the constituents of the steam cracked naptha that may have been released to the air by performing material balance calculations. During the first 24-48 hours of the incident response, the intial assumptions were that a majority of the material was being contained with minimal evaporative losses. Emissions reporting was based on the initial vaporization of material from the leak duration. Sample of the stored and liquid material were collected from multiple areas and storage facilities to help develop a more definitive material balance of the total steam cracked naptha released. As a precaution, at 1230pm on Jun 14, 2012, approximately 400 employees and contractors in the impacted areas of the complex were tested for potential exposure. ExxonMobil believes that none of these individuals will have any adverse impacts. The site conducted regular monitoring at the fence line every four hours and in three unit areas on an hourly basis during the incident response activites. All fence line readings remain below detection. ExxonMobil Industrial Hygiene personel continue to conduct air monitoring and are verifying safe conditions for areas were personnel are working. Fenceline monitoring will be conducted until the steam cracked naptha material in tank 21 and RB-1 have been treated through the Refinery Wastewater Treatment facilities. Firefighting foam was added to the sewer system every 1-2 hours to minimize the amount of evaporative losses. This foam did not impact wastewater treatment operations or capabilities in the quantities utilized during this incident.