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Motiva Enterprises (1406), Norco

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #156388
State Police #14-43883
Accident Date2014-06-01
Report Date 2014-06-05
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
Stormwater16h 59mRefinery Wastewater Treatment System Emergency Spillway StructureNONONOBRQ

Accident Classified As: No Information Given

Cause of Problem: Weather

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.

Discharge Preventable - No Information Given

Notes/Remedial Actions

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.