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Louisiana Refinery Accident Database

Valero (1238), Meraux

LDEQ Accident Report

Pollutants Released

Accident Classified As: Below Reportable Quantity (BRQ)

Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

Two process unit upsets were experienced during period of citizen complaint. The #2 FCU shut down in the early morning hours of December 10th due to issues with its waste heat steam generator, and the debutanizer on the naphtha hydrotreater was vented to the flare for just over one hour on December 13th. Gases were routed to the flare during these events.

Discharge Preventable - No Information Given

Notes/Remedial Actions

Complaint: 12/13 Noxious odors for the last 4-5 days in the early morning hours. An odor was noted by a Valery employee near the refinery's Water Treatment Plant. The odor may have been the result of low odor threshold sulfur species in the wastewater. Odor may have been noticeable beyond the refinery fence line due to wind direction at the time. These events did not exceed permit limits or reportable quantities. LDEQ responded to citizen complaint on the following dates: 12/14/11, 12/19/11, 1/12/12, 1/30/12, 2/15/12, 3/4/12 with no responses received or unanswered phone calls. On 3/27 a meeting was conducted and Mr. Randall Browning, Director of Environmental Affairs stated he would gather the information and respond.