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Motiva Enterprises (1406), Norco

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #103758
State Police #08-01306
Accident Date2008-03-08
Report Date 2008-03-14
Follow-up Date 2008-04-03
Follow-up: Yes

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Benzene10 h 50 mTank F-455 rundown lineNONOYES25.5 pounds
Xylene10 h 50 mTank F-455 rundown lineNONONO101.7 pounds
Oil10 h 50 mTank F-455 rundown lineNONONO267.0 gallons

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing

A leaking flange on the rundown line of tank F-455 was discovered during refill operations.

Discharge Preventable - Yes

To avoid recurrence, investigation findings will be disseminated throughout operations via shift meetings.

Notes/Remedial Actions

Operations personnel halted product transfer, tightened the flange to stop the release, called out additional personnel to begin containment and vapor suppression foaming, began clean up operations, and notified the Norco Site Supervisor. All material released to the ground was picked up via vacuum trucks and stored in fractionation tanks to facilitate source control sampling. All hydrocarbon impacted soil was excavated and disposed of in Motiva's on-site landfill. Regarding remedial actions, each tank within the logistics organization will be evaluated on a case-by-case frequency to determine the need to excavate rundown lines during scheduled tank turnaround activities. The work scope of the tank turnaround process will be revised to include excavation and inspection of all flanges and to include flange make-up requirements that ensure an adequate seal is maintained at the flange interface.