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Formosa Plastics (288), Baton Rouge

Releases of Sodium Hydroxide

LDEQ Accident Number
Accident Date		 Point Source(s) Notes Amount of Release
85732

2006-02-09		No information given
Cause: A sump located in the northwest quadrant of the concrete-lined tank farm containment area was cleaned out during sump pump replacement. A clear liquid containing sodium hydroxide, ethylene dichloride, and vinyl chloride accumulated in the sump after cleanout.

Followup: No

Notes: The facility initiated a corrective action plan to pump out and neutralize sump contents. The liquid was sampled and found to contain 1.3% sodium hydroxide, 1.95 ppm ethylene dichloride and 1.9 ppm vinyl chloride. Investigation included activities to de-inventory a nearby casutic storage tank, T-83A for inspection.
94771

2007-03-19		6-inch isolation valve on
Cause: Formosa was repairing a buried fire water line in the area of the facility that was formerly known as the VCM 1 Unit. As part of the fire water line repair activity, maintenance personnel dug a shallow trench to access a buried pipe. Following digging, liquid was observed in the shallow trench. Near-by storm water sewer line was leaking into the repair trench. Source of the caustic contamination was determined to be from a leaking valve on an upstream caustic header system which drained to this storm sewer.

Followup: Yes

Notes: Formosa is collected and pumped the potentially impacted liquids from the trench for an on-site recovery. Contamination in the trench was recovered and neutralized. The area was blocked in an the job was shut down. Additional excavation was necessary to determine that the source of this leak was a near-by storm water sewer line which was leaking into the repair trench. The source was isolated and the contamination was recovered as much as possible from the sewer system and trench.		537.0 pounds