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CITGO Petroleum (1250), Lake Charles
LDEQ Accident Report
| Accident # | 151352 |
| State Police # | 13-04359 |
| Accident Date | 2013-09-21 |
| Report Date | 2013-10-03 |
| 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 |
| Benzene | 3d 13h 30m | Wastewater treatment unit | NO | NO | YES | 33.0 pounds |
| Xylene | 3d 13h 30m | Wastewater treatment unit | NO | NO | NO | 13.0 pounds |
| Ethylbenzene | 3d 13h 30m | Wastewater treatment unit | NO | NO | YES | 3.0 pounds |
| Toluene | 3d 13h 30m | Wastewater treatment unit | NO | NO | NO | 86.0 pounds |
Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity
Cause of Problem: Weather
This incident involved a Benzene release associated with wastewater diversion CITGO's wastewater treatment plant. This wastewater diversion occurred as a result of a flash flood heavy rain event. CITGO diverted the wastewater into a concrete diked containment area surrounding the wastewater tanks. According to CITGO, the wastewater diversion was necessary to avoid overfilling of stormwater and equalization tanks. One of the WWTP Equalization Tanks (TK 310) had been out of service for inspection/maintenance going into the subject rainfall event.
Discharge Preventable - Under Investigation
Notes/Remedial Actions
Wastewater processing rates were maximized and material diverted to diked area was pumped to controlled storage as tankage became available. CITGO will be constructing a fourth wastewater storage tank as well as an additional API separator and aeration tank.
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