LA Bucket Brigade : Refinery Accident Database

About the Database

Formosa Plastics (288), Baton Rouge

Releases in 2008

LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date	Point Source/Release	Cause	Notes
110741 2008-11-11	Point Source(s): PVC reactor Pollutant(s): Vinyl Chloride - 2,036 pounds	Cause of Problem: Human Factors Operation error caused PVC reactor to release 2036 lb Vinyl Chloride monomer during the rinse/wash cycle subsequent discharge and emptying of the vessel.	No information given
110143 2008-10-16	Point Source(s): 1/2" bleed valve Pollutant(s): Ethylene dichloride - BRQ	Cause of Problem: No Information Given 1/2" bleed valve open and potential for reportable quantity to have been exceeded	No information given.
108488 2008-09-01	Point Source(s): Pollutant(s): Stormwater - 0	Cause of Problem: Weather Hurricane Gustav caused stormwater to overflow street curbing and discharge into local drainage, bypassing the facility's permitted stormwater outfalls.	A representative from the facility promised that a written report would be attached to the facility's Monthly Discharge Monitoring Report for September, 2008. Amount of stormwater released is unknown.
107664 2008-07-31	Point Source(s): NP 110 CND Recovery pump Pollutant(s): Ethylene dichloride - BRQ Hydrochloric Acid - BRQ Vinyl Chloride - BRQ	Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing A patch on a line was leaking slowly. Coming from NP 110 CND recovery pump.	Someone was sent to isolate and patch the release. Amount of ethylene dichloride, hydrochloric acid and vinyl chloride released is unknown. LDEQ report indicates that a written report was received 8/8/08, but that report is not included in LABB's file.
106983 2008-07-03	Point Source(s): Discharge pump Pollutant(s): Vinyl Chloride - 0 Ethylene dichloride - 0	Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure A pinhole leak developed on a discharge pump, but the cause of the leak was unknown.	The release was stopped by valving out the equipment and ceasing use. Amount of Vinyl Chloride and Ethylene Dichloride released is unknown.
106814 2008-06-27	Point Source(s): reboiler Pollutant(s): Vinyl Chloride - BRQ Ethylene dichloride - BRQ	Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Steam was lost throughout the plant, which caused the reboiler to cool down quickly, which caused the release from a gasket leak on the reboiler.	The release was secured when the steam came back up. Late notification because "they were just tied up." Amount of Vinyl Chloride and Ethylene Dichloride released is unknown. LDEQ report indicates that LDEQ received written report on 7/8/08, but that report is not included in LABB's file.
106331 2008-06-11	Point Source(s): NT506A tank Pollutant(s): Vinyl Chloride - BRQ Ethylene - BRQ Hydrochloric Acid - BRQ	Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure There was a leak on NT506A tank. Readings on the tank were 11 PPM.	Operators pumped the tank down to secure the incident.
105529 2008-05-11	Point Source(s): Reactor NR301A Pollutant(s): Ethylene dichloride - BRQ	Cause of Problem: No Information Given The reactor NR301A was over-pressured, which caused the relief valve to lift.	No information given.
105531 2008-05-11	Point Source(s): Quench column NC201C Pollutant(s): Ethylene dichloride - BRQ Vinyl Chloride - BRQ Hydrochloric Acid - BRQ	Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing There was a flange leak on on the transition line to quench column NC201C.	The equipment was shut down, and the pressure was removed. Information later revealed that these were fugitive emissions associated with a permitted source.
105120 2008-04-26	Point Source(s): Quench filter pump Pollutant(s): Vinyl Chloride - BRQ Ethylene dichloride - BRQ Hydrochloric Acid - BRQ	Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure There was a pinhole leak on a quench filter pump.	The leak was isolated, and troubleshooting for repairs was initiated.
104917 2008-04-18	Point Source(s): tattletale gauge Pollutant(s): Vinyl Chloride - BRQ	Cause of Problem: Instrument Failure Tattletale gage on a relief valve was leaking VCM.	Blocked the relief valve and replaced fittings.
104363 2008-03-29	Point Source(s): NV-203 Pollutant(s): Hydrochloric Acid - BRQ	Cause of Problem: Seal or Gasket Blew a gasket on a HCL gas holder NV-203 due to plant upset from loss of power.	No information given.
104120 2008-03-24	Point Source(s): column Pollutant(s): Ethylene dichloride - BRQ	Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Leak from the bottom of a column and EDC leak. The cause of high pressure is unknown. High pressure caused steam to trip and column temperature went down causing expansion which allowed EDC to leak from the seals to the bottom of the column.	Secured.
104122 2008-03-20	Point Source(s): gaskey into caustic mixer line Pollutant(s): Vinyl Chloride - BRQ	Cause of Problem: Seal or Gasket 1" gasket leak into the caustic mixer line. VCM release.	Isolated the line to stop the leak.