LA Bucket Brigade : Refinery Accident Database

About the Database

Chalmette Refining (1376), Chalmette

Citizen Complaints in 2009

LDEQ Accident Number Complaint Date	Notes
112057 1/15/2009	Description: complaintant usually smells odors every night - last night a horrible smell woke him from sleep - hard to describe - seemed like refuse from a process Health Effects: LDEQ Followup: yes LDEQ Notes: Chalmette called in a release of natural gas as a result of a failed relief vavle on a fuel drum, release was below the R/Q but was reported as a courtesy notification Investigation Delay: 11 Accident Report Filed:
111744 1/3/2009	Description: lubricating Oil Sumps were overflowing Health Effects: LDEQ Followup: yes LDEQ Notes: lubricating oil sumps were being impacted by heavy rains, however no offsite release and BRQ Investigation Delay: 10 Accident Report Filed:
113287 3/10/2009	Description: Bad odor Health Effects: nauseating LDEQ Followup: yes LDEQ Notes: No source found at refinery, nearby property had visible plumes. However, hydrocracker incident on 2/24/09 could have contributed, sulfur dioxide level at the Chalmette monitoring station did show a high level Investigation Delay: 56 Accident Report Filed: 112971
116566 7/17/2009	Description: Large white discharge area west of flaring device; no flaring; odor Health Effects: LDEQ Followup: yes LDEQ Notes: seems to be the FCCU wet scrubber in normal operation, emission could be from another part of the refinery but the plant was reported to be in apparent normal operation at the time of the complaintant's observation of the plume Investigation Delay: 7 Accident Report Filed:
116517 7/15/2009	Description: Smells detected at Paris Rd. and St. Bernard Hwy; heavy sour chemical over heavy sulfur smell Health Effects: LDEQ Followup: yes LDEQ Notes: leak in the heat exchanger in the alky unit causing increase in fluorides in MS River, company began process of depressurizing the unit to the flare, after unit depressurized, the leak was found and repaired Investigation Delay: 9 Accident Report Filed:
117128 8/6/2009	Description: coke all over; can't enjoy outside Health Effects: LDEQ Followup: Yes LDEQ Notes: Cannot identify source. Calciner #1 is normal Calciner #2 was down. 7/20/09 there was a leak of VOC/H2S/ Flammable liq Benzene Investigation Delay: 75 Accident Report Filed: 116591
118029 9/17/2009	Description: Terrible odors from Chalmette Health Effects: LDEQ Followup: yes LDEQ Notes: odors had dissipated, no source of the odors could be found Investigation Delay: 90 Accident Report Filed:
118029 9/17/2009	Description: Terrible odors from Chalmette Health Effects: LDEQ Followup: yes LDEQ Notes: no odor problem found Investigation Delay: 90 Accident Report Filed:
118495 10/6/2009	Description: horrible smothering odors; huge flare with black smoke last night; emissions may have caused odors Health Effects: LDEQ Followup: yes LDEQ Notes: on 10/5 there was an unplanned shutdown at Louis Dreyfus plant due to an overpressure of the system; fuel gas sent to the No. 2 flare at the refinery Investigation Delay: 1 Accident Report Filed:
118502 10/5/2009	Description: just before 5 PM, there was a very tall flare with billowing black smoke going into the community Health Effects: LDEQ Followup: yes LDEQ Notes: unplanned shutdown at Louis Dreyfus plant due to an overpressure of the system; fuel gas sent to the No. 2 flare at the refinery Investigation Delay: 2 Accident Report Filed: