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Formosa Plastics (288), Baton Rouge

Releases in 2011

LDEQ Accident Number
Accident Date
Point Source/Release CauseNotes
134586

2011-10-13
Point Source(s):
furnace system of pump NP202F, system NR201C

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

Unknown quantity of vinyl chloride, hydrochloric acid, and ethylene dichloride. A seal blew out on the pump on the furnace system of pump NP202F, system NR201C.
The leak was reported as secured at the time of notification, 8 minutes after being discovered.
133863

2011-09-10
Point Source(s):
release valve

Pollutant(s):
Vinyl Chloride - 1 pounds
Cause of Problem: Seal or Gasket

A gasket failure on a release valve caused the release of 7/5 lbs of vinyl chloride.
Incident was discovered and secured within the same minute. No further action was taken.
133614

2011-09-06
Point Source(s):
pump MP-204C

Pollutant(s):
Vinyl Chloride - 15 pounds
Cause of Problem: Seal or Gasket

14.62 lbs of vinyl chrloride released due to a blown seal on pump MP-204C on 09/06/11.
Blown seal immediately isolated and shutdown for repair, within 5 minutes of occurance, according to Mr. Harold Demmer (Environmental Manager for Formosa), the release was a fugitive emission associated with a permitted emission source, and therefore not in exceedance of a reportable quantity for vinyl chloride at their facility.
131648

2011-06-06
Point Source(s):
NC102B Light Ends Column

Pollutant(s):
Ethylene dichloride - BRQ
Cause of Problem: No Information Given

A hole in the NC102B-Light ends Column is where the ethylene dichloride gas is leaking from.
Leak is on going
131085

2011-05-10
Point Source(s):
Utilities Unit, EPS

Pollutant(s):
Natural Gas - 1,540 pounds
Cause of Problem: Process Upset

The refinery's natural gas supplier over-pressured the natural gas supply pipeline coming into the plant. This caused a pressure relief valve on the pipeline to active and release the natural gas, and the resulting hissing/whistling noise attracted the attention of operations personnel.
The relief valve automatically closed as designed once the excess pressure relieved.
128996

2011-02-02
Point Source(s):
Area N of NT402

Pollutant(s):
Organic Compounds - 0
Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures

Organic compounds were observed while repairing an underground firewater line.
At the time of the LDEQ report, there was no known discharge, but there was a potential groundwater impact. The refinery referred the incident to remediation.
128930

2011-01-31
Point Source(s):
6-inch vent line

Pollutant(s):
Vinyl Chloride - 2 pounds
Hydrochloric Acid - 2 pounds
Cause of Problem: No Information Given

Hydrochloric acid and Vinyl Chrloride vapor were released into the atmopshere when a pinholde developed on a 6-inch vent line.
The vent line has been isolated and there is no pressure on the line. No fires, injuries, or road closures were reported as a result of this incident. No further action by LDEQ at this time.