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Louisiana Refinery Accident Database

Motiva Enterprises (2719), Convent

LDEQ Accident Report

Pollutants Released

Accident Classified As: Below Reportable Quantity (BRQ)

Cause of Problem: Weather

Treated but unclarified wastewater was discharged from Outfall 001 at a rate of approximately 800 gpm. Discharging began at 7:50 pm on January 11, 2013 and ended at 4:00 am on January 12, 2013. An upset occurred at the facility due to extraordinary amounts of rainfall brought on by severe slow moving thunderstorms that caused flash flooding. The facility was being operated properly prior to conditions brought on by the severe weather event. Overwhelmed by the excessive amounts of rainfall, treated water overflowed a basin immediately prior to the system's clarifier, which is the final polishing section of the wastewater treatment system, resulting in a bypass of a de minimus amount of treated but unclarified wastewater. Accordingly, this bypass was unavoidable.

Discharge Preventable - No

The incident was caused by an upset in the wastewater treatment system due to circumstances created by an Act of God.

Notes/Remedial Actions

The discharge was made to the Mississippi River. As discharged material was treated but unclarified wastewater, it is not expected to have any impact to the water quality of the Mississippi River and no permit limit exceedances are anticipated. The event constituted an overflow of a de minimus amount of treated but unclarified wastewater. As operated prior to the initiation of the event, equipment was continued to be monitored and managed to not cause additional bypasses. The event was resolved as flash flooding diminished. The first written notification found was the final report; LABB was unable to find the online notification Motiva submitted on January 12, 2013.