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CITGO Petroleum (1250), Lake Charles

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #133463
State Police #11-05166
Accident Date2011-08-24
Report Date 2011-08-30
Follow-up Date 2011-09-23
Follow-up: Yes

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Hydrogen CyanideContinuousFluidized Catalytic Cracking Units (FCCU) stacks; Wet Gas ScrubberNONONO846,479.0 pounds
Chlorine GasContinuousFluidized Catalytic Cracking Units (FCCU) stacks; Wet Gas ScrubberNONONO34,111.0 pounds

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures

Hydrogen Cyanide and Chlorine were identified in the Fluidized Catalytic Cracking units vent stacks during stack testing mandated by the EPA's information collection request. This has been a continuous and on-going release

Discharge Preventable - No Information Given

Notes/Remedial Actions

CITGO's review of the stack testing and operating data indicates that an air release of hydrogen cyanide and chlorine exceeded a reportable quantity although no quantities were indicated in the report. CITGO was required by EPA to conduct stack testing on 1 of its 3 Fluidized Catalytic Cracking units and report such stack test results before August 31, 2011 to the EPA. The ICR required that CITGO test for hydrogen cyanide and chlorine from this unit. 30 day letter submitted on September 21, 2011 and 1 year follow-up submitted August 24, 2012. CITGO has been releasing between 1,155 lbs to 5,535 lbs of hydrogen cyanide a day for a total of 846,479 lbs per year. They have also been releasing 88 lbs to 116 lbs per day of chlorine for a total of 34,111 lbs per day.