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Valero (1238), Meraux

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #146017
tate Police #N/A
Accident Date2013-01-19
Report Date 2013-02-04
Follow-up Date 0000-00-00
Follow-up: 

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release

Accident Classified As: No Information Given

Cause of Problem: Instrument Failure

A control valve needed adjusting. The problem was made known due to citizen complaint. Two days later, the same valve required adjusting upon notification of complaint.

Discharge Preventable - No Information Given

Notes/Remedial Actions

After being notified of citizen complaint, a facility crew investigated the plant and identified a control valve in the Alky unit as the source of the loud sound being complained of. Adjustments were made to the process to reduce the sound coming from that valve. Another complaint was issued two days later on January 21, 2013 about a high pitched sound currently occurring. The same valve was identified as the source and was adjusted again. Operations personnel were subsequently instructed to keep the flow rate through the valve in a range that should minimize sound being produced by the valve. Investigation as to engineering changes that can be made to the valve to address this issue are underway.