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A an apparently erroneous report posted on the official U.S. Coast Guard's National Response Center website today appeared to indicate that a chemical facility in Braithwaite discharged 191,000 gallons of potentially harmful chemicals into the flood waters of Isaac.
However, the company in question and the Cost Guard now say that the posted report was in error, and that there was no such release of chemicals.
Under a bold heading reading "RELEASED MATERIAL(S)," the report stated line-by-line the amounts of benzene, styrene, toluene, xylene and other chemicals released from holding tanks at Stolthaven Chemical in Plaquemines Parish as more than ten feet of storm surge inundated the area.
However, the company in question and the Cost Guard now say that the posted report was in error, and that there was no such release of chemicals.
Under a bold heading reading "RELEASED MATERIAL(S)," the report stated line-by-line the amounts of benzene, styrene, toluene, xylene and other chemicals released from holding tanks at Stolthaven Chemical in Plaquemines Parish as more than ten feet of storm surge inundated the area.
However, a representative from Stolthaven Chemical tells WWL First News that the report was a verbal report that had been "misrepresented," and that there was not a release of chemicals from the facility due to flooding from Isaac.
"The report was presented verbally to the NRC...and the information was misinterpreted to reflect that there was a release of chemicals from our facility," said Stolthaven's Steve Turchi. "That in fact was not the case."
Click below to listen to WWL's Chris Miller's interview with Turchi:
Turchi says the report was of a worst-case scenario had the tanks actually leaked, but said that none of the chemicals listed were actually released.
"I can confirm that we know of no releases of those chemicals, and we don't store any of the chemicals listed in that report, with the exception of styrene."
He said that the styrene tanks at the Stolthaven facility are "intact" and have not leaked.
The U.S. Coast Guard later confirmed to WWL First News that the report was a "miscommunication" between the company and the National Response Center that led to the report being posted on the NRC website.
Click below to listen to U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Elizabeth Bordelon talk about the "miscommunication:"
The report indicates "the incident was discovered on 11-SEP-12 at 17:00 local time." The report was filed with the NRC just before 4:00 a.m. on September 12.
Police are still enforcing an evacuation order for residents living a half a mile north or south of the plant as a precaution. The order doesn't impact Mississippi River traffic or the West Bank of Plaquemines Parish.
Photo Credit: Gulf Restoration Network
The full text of the original report as posted on the NRC's website follows:
NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER 1-800-424-8802 ** For Public Use ***
Information released to a third party shall comply with any applicable federal and/or state Freedom of Information and Privacy Laws
Incident Report # 1024157
INCIDENT DESCRIPTION
*Report taken at 03:48 on 12-SEP-12
Incident Type: FIXED
Incident Cause: HURRICANE
Affected Area: FLOOD WATER
The incident was discovered on 11-SEP-12 at 17:00 local time.
Affected Medium: WATER / FLOOD WATER & ATMOSPHERE
____________________________________________________________________________
SUSPECTED RESPONSIBLE PARTY
Organization: STOLTHAVEN NEW ORLEANS, LLC.
BRAITHWAITE, LA 70040
Type of Organization: PRIVATE ENTERPRISE
____________________________________________________________________________
INCIDENT LOCATION
2444 ENGLISH TURN RD. County: PLAQUEMINES
City: BRAITHWAITE State: LA Zip: 70040
____________________________________________________________________________
RELEASED MATERIAL(S)
CHRIS Code: BNZ Official Material Name: BENZENE
Also Known As:
Qty Released: 97.3 GALLON(S) Qty in Water: 97.3 GALLON(S)
CHRIS Code: DAE Official Material Name: DIETHYLETHANOLAMINE
Also Known As:
Qty Released: 177568 GALLON(S) Qty in Water: 177568 GALLON(S)
CHRIS Code: EGL Official Material Name: ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Also Known As:
Qty Released: 822 GALLON(S) Qty in Water: 822 GALLON(S)
CHRIS Code: ETB Official Material Name: ETHYLBENZENE
Also Known As:
Qty Released: 291.9 GALLON(S) Qty in Water: 291.9 GALLON(S)
CHRIS Code: NTM Official Material Name: NAPHTHALENE
Also Known As:
Qty Released: 97.3 GALLON(S) Qty in Water: 97.3 GALLON(S)
CHRIS Code: OLB Official Material Name: OIL, MISC: LUBRICATING
Also Known As:
Qty Released: 9474 GALLON(S) Qty in Water: 9474 GALLON(S)
CHRIS Code: STY Official Material Name: STYRENE
Also Known As: STYRENE (MONOMER)
Qty Released: 1036 GALLON(S) Qty in Water: 1036 GALLON(S)
CHRIS Code: TEL Official Material Name: TETRAETHYL LEAD
Also Known As:
Qty Released: 5.1 GALLON(S) Qty in Water: 5.1 GALLON(S)
CHRIS Code: TOL Official Material Name: TOLUENE
Also Known As:
Qty Released: 973.1 GALLON(S) Qty in Water: 973.1 GALLON(S)
CHRIS Code: XLX Official Material Name: XYLENE (O-, M-, P-, & MIXTURES)
Also Known As:
Qty Released: 973.1 GALLON(S) Qty in Water: 973.1 GALLON(S)
________________________________________________________________________
DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT
THE CALLER IS MAKING THE INITIAL REPORT FOR A RELEASE OF SEVERAL MATERIALS AS A RESULT OF HURRICANE ISAAC. THE FACILITY FLOODED APPROX. 10-14 FEET. WHICH CAUSED DAMAGES AND LEAKS TO SOME OF THE STORAGE TANKS. THE RELEASE OCCURRED ON 29AUG2012 WITH THE DISCOVERY DATE OF 11SEP2012. THE QUANTITIES FOR ALL OF THE MATERIALS INVOLVED ARE NOT EXPECTED TO EXCEED THE SPECIFIED AMOUNT.
____________________________________________________________________________
INCIDENT DETAILS
Package: N/A
Building ID:
Type of Fixed Object: TANK FARM
Power Generating Facility: NO
Generating Capacity:
Type of Fuel:
NPDES:
NPDES Compliance: UNKNOWN
---SHEEN INFORMATION---
Sheen Color: UNKNOWN
Sheen Odor Description:
Sheen Travel Direction:
Sheen Size Length:
Sheen Size Width:
---WATER INFORMATION---
Body of Water: FLOOD WATER
Tributary of:
Nearest River Mile Marker:
Water Supply Contaminated: UNKNOWN
____________________________________________________________________________
DAMAGES
Fire Involved: NO Fire Extinguished: UNKNOWN
INJURIES: NO Hospitalized: Empl/Crew: Passenger:
FATALITIES: NO Empl/Crew: Passenger: Occupant:
EVACUATIONS: NO Who Evacuated: Radius/Area:
Damages: YES $
Length of Direction of
Closure Type Description of Closure Closure Closure
Air: N
Road: N Major Artery:
N
Waterway: N
Track: N
Passengers Transferred: NO
Environmental Impact: UNKNOWN
Media Interest: NONE Community Impact due to Material:
____________________________________________________________________________
REMEDIAL ACTIONS
ADVANCE HURRICANE PROCEDURES WERE TAKEN PRIOR TO HURRICANE ISAAC, SPILL BOOMS WERE DEPLOYED AND ENGAGED THE RESPONSE COMPANY; REMEDIATION IS ONGOING AT THIS TIME.
Release Secured: UNKNOWN
Release Rate:
Estimated Release Duration:
____________________________________________________________________________
WEATHER
____________________________________________________________________________
ADDITIONAL AGENCIES NOTIFIED
Federal: USCG
State/Local: LA STATE POLICE, LA-DEQ
State/Local On Scene: USCG, LA-DEQ
State Agency Number: 12-05936
____________________________________________________________________________
NOTIFICATIONS BY NRC
CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF'S DEPT (CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT)
12-SEP-12 04:30
DHS NOC (NOC)
12-SEP-12 04:30
USCG-GC IMT (PRIMARY)
12-SEP-12 04:30
DHS PROTECTIVE SECURITY ADVISOR (PSA DESK)
12-SEP-12 04:30
DOT CRISIS MANAGEMENT CENTER (MAIN OFFICE)
12-SEP-12 04:30
U.S. EPA VI (MAIN OFFICE)
12-SEP-12 04:33
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (MAIN OFFICE)
12-SEP-12 04:30
FLD INTEL SUPPORT TEAM NEW ORLEANS (SUPERVISOR, FIST NEW ORLEANS)
12-SEP-12 04:30
GULF STRIKE TEAM (MAIN OFFICE)
12-SEP-12 04:30
INFO ANALYSIS & INFRA PROTECTION (MAIN OFFICE)
12-SEP-12 04:30
JFO-LA (COMMAND CENTER)
12-SEP-12 04:30
JFO-LA (FEMA JFO LA)
12-SEP-12 04:30
LA DEPT OF ENV QUAL (MAIN OFFICE)
12-SEP-12 04:30
LA DEPT OF NATURAL RESOURSES (OFFICE OF CONSERVATION)
12-SEP-12 04:30
LA DEPT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES (MAIN OFFICE)
12-SEP-12 04:30
LA GOV OFFICE HS AND EMERGENCY PREP (MAIN OFFICE)
12-SEP-12 04:30
LA GOV OFFICE HS AND EMERGENCY PREP (SOUTHEAST LA REGIONAL COORDINATOR)
12-SEP-12 04:30
LA OFFICE OF GOV (MAIN OFFICE)
12-SEP-12 04:30
LA OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH (MAIN OFFICE)
12-SEP-12 04:30
NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE COORD CTR (MAIN OFFICE)
12-SEP-12 04:30
NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE COORD CTR (INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION)
12-SEP-12 04:30
NOAA RPTS FOR LA (MAIN OFFICE)
12-SEP-12 04:30
SECTOR NEW ORLEANS (COMMAND CENTER)
12-SEP-12 04:31
LA STATE POLICE (MAIN OFFICE)
12-SEP-12 04:30
LA STATE POLICE (ANALYTICAL AND FUSION EXCHANGE)
12-SEP-12 04:30
USCG DISTRICT 8 (MAIN OFFICE)
12-SEP-12 04:30
____________________________________________________________________________
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICIALS ARE ONSITE AT THIS TIME.
___________________________________________________________________________
*** END INCIDENT REPORT # 1024157 ***
