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Valero (26003), Norco

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #No LDEQ Number Available
State Police #13-00567
Accident Date2013-02-06
Report Date 2013-02-06
Follow-up Date 2013-04-05
Follow-up: Yes

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Light Cycle OilNIGLoading Arm No. 3NONOYES2.0 gallons

Accident Classified As: Below Reportable Quantity (BRQ)

Cause of Problem: No Information Given

On Febraury 6, 2013 at approximately 20:25 while the dock operations contractor connected Loading Arm No. 3 to the EMS-321 barge on Dock 3, less than two gallons of Light Cycle Oil (LCO) spilled into the river. The remaining material was contained in a drip pan on the barge. Prior to initiating the connection, the loading arm had been cleared using pressurized air to another barge. However, a pocket of LCO remained in the arm and discharged while making the connection. The oil spilled to the river and dissipated. The remaining oil on the barge structure was cleaned. Waste from the clean-up will be shipped offsite to a non hazardous waste landfill.

Discharge Preventable - Yes

This incident was reasonably preventable.

Notes/Remedial Actions

While attaching the loading arm, a drip pan was used to contain any free oil, and we verified that all transfer lines were isolated. Absorbent pads and boom were used to capture any remaining oil. The barge company provided personnel to clean the residual oil on their deck and associated piping. No usable material was recovered. The recovered waste was disposed of properly. The following corrective measures will be implemented to prevent this recurrence: 1. Modify procedures to use alternate systems to strip the loading arms using pumps instead of pressurized air. 2. Develop a scope and cost to investigate a permanent system to strip the loading arm to the LCO transfer line. 3. Modify dock log to note loading arm stripping activities and time of activity. *The attached PDF defines itself as a 60 day written follow-up report. No LDEQ number is listed on the document. LABB could not locate the original 7-day refinery letter. The report lists LA Police incident 13-00567, NRC 1037776, but no LDEQ incident number. 4. Communicate the incident to all dock personnel.