Home Search Emissions Pollutants About the Database


Valero (1238), Meraux

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #146530
tate Police #N/A
Accident Date2013-02-08
Report Date 2013-02-14
Follow-up Date 0000-00-00
Follow-up: No

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Natural GasNIGMarine Vapor Recovery (MVR) flareNONONOBRQ

Accident Classified As: Below Reportable Quantity (BRQ)

Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

A citizen complaint was made citing "flare at the Valero dock very large, visible from Paris Road," on February 8, 2013. LDEQ conducted surveillance of the area on 2/18/13. A large flare was not observed at the time of the inspection. Mr. Justin Stubbe, Manager Environmental Engineering at Valero Refining- Meraux, about events at the facility on 2/8/13. According to the follow-up email attached to the pdf, there was a larger than average flame on the Marine Vapor Recovery (MVR) flare on 2/8/13. A valve positioner malfunctioned, increasing the amount of sweet natural gas that is burned alongside vapors displaced during marine loading. There were no RQ exceedances or emergency conditions. Marine loading was halted and the valve positioner was repaired later that same day. There was no damage to the MVR and loading later resumed.

Discharge Preventable - No Information Given

Notes/Remedial Actions

Marine loading was halted and the valve positioner was repaired later that same day. There was no damage to the MVR and loading later resumed.