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Valero (1238), Meraux

Releases of Gasoline

LDEQ Accident Number
Accident Date
Point Source(s) Notes Amount of Release
82713

2005-10-01
Tank 200-1
Cause: Malfunction of the roof drain

Followup: No

Notes: The refinery is considering replacing the kickstand roof drains.
210.0 gallons
07-BB013-3796

2007-08-01
Gasoline Spill to River at Dock - transfer line/hose
Cause: During a test conducted at 188 psi, a rubber loading hose, rated for a pressure of 225 psi, developed a 4 inch long split, allowing gasoline to spray to the Rive

Followup: No Information Provided

Notes: This incident occurred on 8/1/2007 and was not reported by Murphy until 3/11/2008. This incident was not preventable because the rupture of the hose was not a predictable event. At the time of the spill of 30 gallons of gasoline into the Miss. River, MOUSA was conducting annual pressure testing of a hard piped gasoline transfer line, per U.S. Coast Guard regulations. Because MOUSA was not loading gasoline to a vessel, the 8 rubber loading hoses at the Dock had been capped at the loadend, were elevated and suspended from their gantry hangers, and were secured from the loading hoses. During a test conducted at 188 psi, a rubber loading hose, rated for a pressure of 225 psi, developed a 4 long split, allowing gasoline to
30.0 gallons
96245

2007-05-16
Tank 20-1 at the MOUSA Meraux Terminal
Cause: this episode was the apparent result of human error. The terminal received a transfer of gasoline from the Refinery via pipeline on 5/15, after which a Terminal Operator failed to follow written procedures to secure two valves that isolate the Terminal from the Refinery. The next evening, while the Refinery was loading gasoline at the river dock on the same pipeline, Tank 20-1 overfilled

Followup: No Information Provided

Notes: There is no information as to whether this incident was preventable or not - I assume it was since it is due to human error that seems preventable. Remedial Measures - St. Bernard Highway and the adjacent rail line were closed until 7:30 (am or pm?) - Approximately 450 barrels of material was released from the tank into the diked containment area. MOUSA immediately shut down the loading operations to the Dock and initiated emergency response actions in accordance with the TerminalSPCC Plan. MOUSA secured the tank, deployed firefighting foam for vapor suppression, recovered free liquids with vacuum trucks, and will remove contaminated soil. Free liquids were returned to the refinery for re-processing. Contaminated spill respon
18,900.0 gallons
109415

2008-09-20
Floor of Tank 55-7
Cause: No Information Given - Leak

Followup: No Information Provided

Notes: This was a self report from Murphy to LDEQ regarding a gasoline leak to the ground from the floor of Tank 55-7. The leak was discovered at 0815 hours on 9/20/2008. Approximately 2 barrels were recovered by vacuum truck. The leak was contained inside thediked secondary containment. Steps were taken immediately to lower the roof legs in the floating roof of the tank and to transfer product from the tank so that it could be emptied. Water was pumped into the tank to displace the gasoline on the bottomgns of visual contamination has been removed for proper disposal. There was no impact to waterways.
168.0 gallons
08-BB013-3914

2008-05-16
Leaking valve
Cause: leaking valve on the loading hose. See Above # 871034.

Followup: No Information Provided

Notes: This was a report by Murphy Oil to the LDEQ regarding two spills of gasoline into the Mississippi River from the refinery's dock on back to back days - see #871121 below. Murphy Oil immediately shut down the transfer line and blocked in the hose. The following day an additional 1 gallon of gasoline was released to the Miss. River as a result of a leaking valve on the loading hose. The hose is used for loading both ethanol and gasoline. Murphy Oil judged it safer not to remediate the gasoline spand allow it to dissipate. There were no reportable quantities exceedances for gasoline or benzene. The off-site impact was below reportable quantities for oil (RQ = 1 barrel) and benzene (RQ = 1- pounds. Murphy Oil is working with the hose manufactu
1.0 gallons
08-BB013-3913

2008-05-15
Hose failure
Cause: the cause of the spill was a hose failure while loading gasoline. Murphy suspects that the ethanol chemically degraded the hose despite the manufacturer stating that that the hose is designed to be compatible for both ethanol and gasoline.

Followup: No Information Provided

Notes: This was a report by Murphy Oil to the LDEQ regarding two spills of gasoline into the Mississippi River from the refinery's dock on back to back days - see #871121 below. Murphy Oil immediately shut down the transfer line and blocked in the hose. The following day an additional 1 gallon of gasoline was released to the Miss. River as a result of a leaking valve on the loading hose. The hose is used for loading both ethanol and gasoline. Murphy Oil judged it safer not to remediate the gasoline spand allow it to dissipate. There were no reportable quantities exceedances for gasoline or benzene. The off-site impact was below reportable quantities for oil (RQ = 1 barrel) and benzene (RQ = 1- pounds. Murphy Oil is working with the hose manufactu
20.0 gallons
119047

2009-10-27
trim condenser
Cause: Leak from trim condenser. Material discharged into cooling water return pond that leads to the Mississippi River.

Followup: No

Notes: Company letter missing. Verbal report only. Leak isolated and repaired.
42.0 pounds
131892

2011-06-18
Storage tank leak
Cause: Storage tank leaking low benzene gasoline from the floor of the tank.

Followup:

Notes: Area diked to contain the spill, vacuum truck used to remove the spilled gasoline from the ground. Low benzene gasoline transfered to another tank. Impacted soil removed and samples taken for analysis.
210.0