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Louisiana Refinery Accident Database

Motiva Enterprises (1406), Norco

LDEQ Accident Report

Pollutants Released

Accident Classified As: No Information Given

Cause of Problem: Weather

The unanticipated bypass of the Motiva wastewater treatment facility at the Storm Water Impoundment Basin (SWIB) spillway was caused by thunderstorms and associated heavy rainfall.

Discharge Preventable - No

Motiva's normal operating procedures call for the initiation of bypass operations when no capacity remins in the RWTS and a bypass is the only alternative to prevent flooding the the facility.

Notes/Remedial Actions

Norco experience extremely heavy rains from a slow moving thunderstorm. The site was initially able to contain the rainfall associated with this event and route it to the Refinery Wastewater Treatment System (RWTS) for treatment and subsequent discharge through LPDES Outfall 002. However, the system storage capacity was reduced due to rainfall that had occurred on preceding days and as the heavy rains continued, the RWTS (consisting of the Storm Water Impoundment Basin and Aeration Basin) reached maximum capacity levels. Motiva opened the spillway, which is located on the northern side of the SWIB, to prevent flooding of the refinery and damage to the SWIB from overtopping of the retaining levee. The spillway discharges to Engineer's Canal and then to Lake Ponchartrain via a flood control structure through the St. Charles Paris Hurricane Protection Levee. Permit levels were not exceeded and a visual inspection showed no signs of adverse water quality of the storm water discharge during the bypass. No mention of any pounds or gallons.