Home | Search | Emissions | Pollutants | About the Database |
Accident # | 156388 |
State Police # | 14-43883 |
Accident Date | 2014-06-01 |
Report Date | 2014-06-05 |
Follow-up Date | 0000-00-00 |
Follow-up: | No |
Pollutant | Duration | Point Source | Greenhouse Gas | Criteria Pollutant | Ozone forming chemical | Amount of Release |
Stormwater | 16h 59m | Refinery Wastewater Treatment System Emergency Spillway Structure | NO | NO | NO | BRQ |
Accident Classified As: No Information Given
On 6/1/2014, heavy rains from a series of thunderstorms in the Norco area overwhelmed the Refinery Wastewater Treatment System (RWTS). The heavy rain that occurred in the days prior reduced the systems storage capacity. When the RWTS reached capacity, in accordance with procedures in the LPDES permit application, Motiva opened the RWTS emergency spillway to prevent flooding of the refinery and damage to the Storm Water Impoundment Basin from overtopping the retaining levee. Stormwater bypassed the RWTS and was discharged to Engineer's Canal and then to Lake Ponchartrain via a flood control structure through the St. Charles Parish Hurricane Protection Levee.
Motiva's normal operating procedures call for the initiation of bypass operations when no capacity remains in the RWTS and a bypass is the only alternative to prevent flooding of the facility. Sample collection and analysis required by LPDES Permit LA0003522 were conducted in conjunction with the opening of the spillway. Emergency bypass operations were stopped at 0500 on June 2, 2014.
Connect With Us: