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Formosa Plastics (288), Baton Rouge

Releases in 2009

LDEQ Accident Number
Accident Date
Point Source/Release CauseNotes
118671

2009-10-12
Point Source(s):
bottom man-way gasket #MF601A

Pollutant(s):
Vinyl Chloride - BRQ
Cause of Problem: Seal or Gasket

A leak developed from the bottom man-way gasket on storage sphere MF601A.
Perimeter air monitoring by Formosa Plastics showed no detectable levels of Vinyl Chloride. The leak was isolated using nitrogen padding. Bottom gasket was inspected and replaced. Deinventorying the sphere.
118657

2009-10-11
Point Source(s):
piping

Pollutant(s):
Vinyl Chloride - 3,001 pounds
Cause of Problem: Process Upset

Facility personnel stated that they are in the process of decompressing the pipe. Water spray used to control the vapors. A release occurred when a 3/4" diameter section of piping failed. The most likely mode of failure at this time is believed to be shear induced by vibration/stress fatigue. Vibrational and/or other stresses at the point of failure, exacerbated by the mass of a recently installed and engineered leak mitigation clamp, are thought to be the precipitating factors in this incident.
Actions were taken to identify and isolate the release source and affected equipment. Water spray systems were also activated to suppress, disperse, and control vapors. Actions planned to prevent recurrence include communication of this incident to the third party specialty repair contractor to establish further protocols for use of engineered clamps on future repairs of this type, with an emphasis on minimizing impacts from stress points from this type of configuration.
116504

2009-07-16
Point Source(s):


Pollutant(s):
Ethylene dichloride - BRQ
Hydrochloric Acid - BRQ
Vinyl Chloride - BRQ
Cause of Problem: Start Up, Shut Down

There were two simultaneous releases when a pressure relief valve released on startup. Each release lasted 30 seconds.
To correct the problem the process was adjusted and the steam pressure lowered. Amount of vinyl chloride, ethylene dichloride, and hyrdogen chloride released is unknown.
116081

2009-06-28
Point Source(s):
20" manway gasket

Pollutant(s):
Ethylene dichloride - BRQ
Hydrochloric Acid - BRQ
Vinyl Chloride - BRQ
Cause of Problem: Seal or Gasket

Gasket leak on a 20" manway gasket on the HCL column.
no information given
115373

2009-05-30
Point Source(s):
Reactor NR301A

Pollutant(s):
Ethylene dichloride - BRQ
Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

Reactor NR301A developed a pinhole leak on a "hard blind." The plant personnel could not pick up the ethylene dichloride with dredger tubes adjacent to the reactor.
The facility expressed plans to cap and reinforce the "hard blind."
114272

2009-04-17
Point Source(s):
NE200A

Pollutant(s):
Ethylene dichloride - BRQ
Cause of Problem: Seal or Gasket

Top head gasket on NE200A developed a leak.
Tightened the leak as soon as possible.