“Chemical Odor That’s Causing Headache” in Standard Heights

By Anna Hrybyk, Program Director

On May 7, 2013 I attended a community meeting on Lupine Avenue in the Standard Heights neighborhood across from Honeywell and ExxonMobil.  Twelve people texted and called to our iWitness Pollution Map regarding a strong chemical odor during that time and earlier that day.  It disrupted the meeting because many people were getting sick from the chemical fumes.

LOCATION	DESCRIPTION
2621 Lupine Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	I am at 2621 lupine its a bad smell in the air
2621 Lupine Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	I’m located at 2621 Lupine ave there’s a chemical odor in the air
Lupine Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	Hello this is Bessie Johnson.  I was standing outside on Luoine cross street of Chippewa if I’m not mistaken and I didn’t see anything but I smelled a foul odor coming out of the air.  And once again this is Bessie Johnson and my address is 1501 Seneca and I smelled something yesterday, more of a rotten egg type smell and I really didn’t see anything.  And I’m currently smelling gas in my house and I had it checked and I have yet to get reported that I have a gas leak.  Thank you.
2550 Lobelia Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	7am -11am today sulphur smell. 6:30pm-8:00pm 4 different smells caused me to cough. Address 2550 Lobeila Ave, Baton Rouge, LA. Susan Boudreaux
Lupine Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	Chemical odor that’s causing headache on lupine street may 5 13 at 7:55pm name Laronica Douglas
2732 Lupine Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	Yes I am at 2732 Lupine.  There’s a bad smell in the area and it has me feeling nauseous.  You can give me a call back at 397-2323.  Thank you.
Baton Rouge, LA, USA	my name is Chantay Eackels .and I live buy Exxon and I smell a bad odor
Lupine Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	Hi I’m on Lupine.  I smell the chemicals right now.
Lupine Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	I’m in the subdivision right across from the Exxon plant on Lupine Street.  It’s a bad smell in the neighborhood…Extremely…can’t hardly breathe.
2768 Lupine Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	Strong smell,  suffocating.  Eyes are burning and headache coming on
2757 Sorrel Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	Bad odor like dead meat on 2757 sorrel ave at 6:45pm on 5-7-13
2824 Pimpernel Ave, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States	Across the street from Exxon.  Wind blowing from north west.  Scratchy throat and headache coming on

Peter Ricca from LDEQ’s response was the following:

One citizen’s odor complaint was called into the State Police at 8:26 pm on 5/7/2013.  State Police  and the Baton Rouge Fire Department Hazmat investigated the complaint that night and spoke with the complainant.  Baton Rouge FD personnel conducted air monitoring and their results were non-detect.  State Police followed up with Exxon Mobil, who reported no releases and non-detect on their monitoring conducted both inside and external to their facility.  LDEQ received the LSP notification  on 5/8/2013 at 10:59 am and once processed it will be sent to our capitol Regional Office for follow up.

At this time LDEQ has not received any Hazardous Materials Hotline or NRC notifications of releases in East Baton Rouge Parish.

The incident in question was assigned to our Capitol Regional Office and that investigation is open.  The Baton Rouge Fire Department indicated that they conducted air monitoring at the complainant’s home and in the surrounding area and that the complainant was contacted by investigating trooper.  You may wish to make a public records request to the Baton Rouge Fire Department Hazmat unit  or State Police for a copy of their reports that may answer your question.

“Smells Like Pollution in Chalmette”

By Anna Hrybyk, Program Director

LABB received 10 reports to the iWitness Pollution Map on Thursday May 9, 2013 from the Greater New Orleans/Chalmette area concerning sulfur and petroleum odors and flaring from the Chalmette facilities.  Many more came in on Friday May 10, 2013 and through the weekend as well.

INCIDENT TITLE	INCIDENT DATE	LOCATION	DESCRIPTION
Very strong gas smell in New Orleans	5/12/13 0:05	Louisiana Avenue & Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA	There is a very strong gas smell bunsan-burner type/gas range near Louisiana Avenue and Magazine 70115.
Really strong gas smell in New Orleans	5/12/13 0:01	Louisiana Avenue & Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA	I am at Louisiana and Magazine Street and outside. It’s about 11 o’clock and now I am smelling a really strong gas smell.  There’s no wind at this time but I’m not outside much so I don’t have much health effect.  If I were I would probably have a headache.  Thanks.
Sulfur smell like bad eggs in Covington	5/11/13 0:09	Interstate 12, Covington, LA 70433, USA	Sulphur smell. Like bad eggs @ I- 12 and 190. Covington LA 11PM
Stinky chemically smell in New Orleans	5/10/13 22:19	Mid-City, New Orleans, LA, USA	Stinky smell in Midcity New Orleans tonight…chemically
Sulfur smell blowing in through car vents	5/10/13 21:26	2710–3198 S Claiborne Ave, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States	Stinky stinky
Very strong sulfur smell, came into house in New Orleans	5/10/13 20:09	734 France Street, New Orleans, LA 70117, USA	Very strong sulfur smell. Even came into the house.Wind blowing from chalmette. 734 france street in new orleans.  My eyes are watering and my nose is tingling.
petro chemical odor in Lower Ninth Ward, New orleans	5/10/13 13:15	430 Tupelo Street, New Orleans, LA 70117, USA	Strong petro-chemical odor in the air right now at 430 Tupelo St. New Orleans, LA 70117.  7:15 pm, friday 5/10/13
Strong sulfur smell, mixed with fertilizer type smell, flaring, haze in Chalmette	5/9/13 20:35	8606 West Saint Bernard Highway, Chalmette, LA 70043, USA	Hi I am in front of the entrance to the Chalmette National Cemetary on St. Bernard parish very close to the RAIN CII plant and I’m smelling a sulfur smell, it smells almost like a strange, almost fertilizer type smell mixed in with it.  There is very strong sulfur and a little bit of haze.  I don’t see any flaring there.  Oh no, wait, I see thy are flaring.  Ok.  Kristen 504-729-0550.  Thank you. Bye.
Flaring at Valero Meraux	5/9/13 20:28	East Saint Bernard Highway & Mary Ann Drive, Meraux, LA 70075, USA	Hi I am in front of the Valero Meraux refinery at Mary Anne Drive and St. Bernard Highway and I see that it is flaring, it’s not creating a bunch of smoke but they are flaring and the wind direction is heading to the north.  So its heading away from me so I can’t detect anything, if there’s a stinky odor or anything coming from it.  I wanted to let you know about the flaring.  My phone number is 504-729-0550.  It’s Kristen.  Ok, bye.
Strong oily smell, nausea and mild headache	5/9/13 19:08	Magnolia Street, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA	(1/2) Reporting a strong oily smell beginning at 1, 3, 4, am on may 8 through today may 9th. Can bs smelled from uptown new orleans 70115. Nauaea and mild headache. Very disturbing. Thank you Jason Miner Magnolia st New Orleans LA– Sent using SMS-to-email.
Smells strong like sulfur, two flares burning in Chalmette	5/9/13 17:21	West Saint Bernard Highway & Jackson Boulevard, Chalmette, LA 70043, USA	Hi I’m on St. Bernard Highway right by the RAIN CII plant at the entrance of Jackson and St. Bernard Highway.  It smells strong like sulfur and there are two flares burning.  Right now I am at the entrance of CHalmette Refining and there’s a heavy stench in the air.  It smells like sulfur mixed with some other smelly thing.  the wind direction is blowing, goodness, I guess a little bit northish.  It’s blowing from the refinery right towards St. Bernard Highway right in the direction of where I am.  So and this is Kristen.  If you need more information you know where to find me. Thank you.  Bye.
Smells like pollution in Chalmette	5/9/13 15:53	Chalmette, LA, USA	Smells like pollution in chalmette
Air quality still bad in uptown	5/9/13 10:39	Saint Charles Avenue & Napoleon Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA	9:30 am 5/9. St. Charles n Napoleon. Air quality still bad
Petroleum smell Uptown New Orleans	5/9/13 9:49	Tulane University, 6823 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA	My neighbor and I both smell a petroleum odor in the neighborhood this morning.  The last time I smelled this kind of odor here, there had been an incident at the Chalmette refinery.  We live Uptown near Tulane University.  We aren’t experiencing any apparent health effects at this point.  Thank you for tracking this!  Laura Stell  tel 504-861-1143
Burning Asphalt Smell in the Air	5/9/13 1:54	Camp Street & State Street, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA	I’m smelling a terrible asphalt/burning smell in the air similar to one I smelled down in the French Quarter back in March.
Smells like Chalmette in Uptown New Orleans	5/9/13 1:13	Saint Charles Avenue & Napoleon Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA	12:10 am 5/9. St. Charles n Napoleon. Smells like Chalmette
Smells like sulfur	5/9/13 1:10	4730 South Liberty Street, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA	Heavy sulfur smell blowing in through the windows.  Scratchy throat.
Flare smell rotten egg tar mix	5/8/13 21:26	East Saint Bernard Highway & Octavia Drive, Chalmette, LA 70043, USA	On st banard qnd Octavia there is a flare smell rotten egg tar mix
flaring at Valero	5/5/13 21:00	2700 Ventura Drive, Chalmette, LA 70043, USA	return of night time flaring at Valero, noticed last two nights
Valero flaring	5/4/13 21:00	2700 Ventura Drive, Chalmette, LA 70043, USA	around 9pm flaring at Valero refinery in Chalmette, causing sinus issues
Odor or oil in air	5/2/13 1:21	Aurora Drive & Brighton Place, New Orleans, LA 70131, USA	Smell of oil/crude persisting in the air. 5:15 am (CDT)

The response from Lee Lemond, LDEQ Emergency Responder on this was as follows:

I was in Chalmette on 5/9/13 and visited all 3 major SO2 emitters while out there and performed air monitoring downwind. No detections were noted.

Note:
-          We received a complaint on 5/9/13 stating a haze near Ch. Ref/Rain from the St. Bernard FD.
-          From Peter Cazeaux referring to 5/9/13: “There were elevated SO2 levels at the Chalmette Vista site on 5/9/13 at 16:00 CST logger .”

Valero Meraux

Email update from me on 5/9/13:

·         Valero Meraux has been flaring and emitting SO2 over the RQ since last Friday (5/3/13).

·         Current release rates are between 20 to 40 lbs/ hour.

·         This is related to the hydrocracker unit startup; however after other measures to fix the problem have failed, the Hydrocracker unit will need to be shutdown in order for repairs.

·         The shutdown is going to occur next Wednesday (5/15/13) and can’t last any longer than 10 days (due to the catalyst).

·         They have reported no complaints.

·         I monitored today downwind on Jacobs Dr and no detections of SO2 occurred. There was a noticeable odor.

5/12/13:

·         New SO2 release associated pushed emissions to approximately 400 lbs/hour.

·         This incident was secured that evening; though flaring has been ongoing.

Chalmette Refining

On 5/9/13:

·         SO2 flaring likely to exceed RQ; though permitted.

·         Associated with the shutdown of the Alky unit.

·         Air monitoring by their contractor was in place.

·         This flaring lasted through Friday evening, 5/10/13.

5/12/13:

·         SO2 release incident; likely to exceed RQ.

·         A high pressure alarm went down preventing computer control until it was isolated.

·         Began at approx. 7:20pm and lasted to 10:30 pm.

Smelling Baton Rouge

By Anna Hrybyk, Program Director

LABB received 3 reports to our iWitness Pollution Map from North Baton Rouge neighborhoods surrounding the ExxonMobil complex within a two hour time period on the evening on May 3rd.  The ExxonMobil Chemical Plant Baton Rouge Complex reported releasing Sulfur Dioxide early morning on May 5th according to an NRC report.

http://www.oilspill.labucketbrigade.org/reports/view/10126   17:54 May 3 2013 Scenic Highway and Chippewa, Baton Rouge, LA   “it’s got kind of like a sharp smell to it but then also a kind of old egg smell as well. It makes my head hurt and I’ve got a pretty bad headache right now. It’s gone from…I was coming down Scenic Highway and its gone from I guess Evangeline all the way to Chippewa.”

http://www.oilspill.labucketbrigade.org/reports/view/10125  18:37 May 3 2013 Chippewa Street & Arbutus Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA  “I can smell strong fumes in the air which after sitting out here a while has given me a headache.”

http://www.oilspill.labucketbrigade.org/reports/view/10127  19:58 May 3 2013 Plank Road, Baton Rouge, LA, USA  “I live on Plank Road and I work at the Cox Building on Florida Boulevard and all day today I smelled just funk in the air. It seems to be…the winds are coming from the northwest and its blowing right into all over Baton Rouge”

I sent these reports to Peter Ricca at LDEQ.  He responded:

Ms. Hrybyk,

1.       Regarding EBR odor complaints received on May 4-5, 2013

LDEQ has received a written complaint notification (13-01924) from the LSP Hotline.  That complaint was made to State Police at 4:37 PM on Friday May 3^rd.  State Police processes calls received  and then distributes that information to other local and state agencies.  Complaints received by LDEQ after regular business hours are processed in the order received during the next regular business day.  In processing that complaint report today {May 7} a follow up call was made by LDEQ field staff to obtain additional information from the caller.  Based on that additional information LDEQ inspectors from the Capitol Regional Office are planning to investigate a nearby facility that believed to be the origin of the odor complaint .

2.       Regarding  the May 5^th Exxon Chemical Notification (13-01936) to the LSP Hazardous Material Hotline received by LDEQ LDEQ received the written LSP notification today.  Three (3) updates to the report were made after LDEQ was notified of the incident.  Those updates included the following information: [1^st] additional chemicals were added to the list of chemicals sent to the flare.  That list included 1-3 butadiene >10lbs, benzene > 10lbs, and SO2 (no amount is included on the report provided to LDEQ); [2^nd] incident closed at 0540, only RQ exceeded was ethylene at 292.2 lbs; [3^rd] flammable vapor exceedance during incident 3,000 lbs to atmosphere.

Thank you for your concerns.

Peter Ricca, Environmental Scientist Manager

LOCATION	DESCRIPTION
2621 Lupine Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	I am at 2621 lupine its a bad smell in the air
2621 Lupine Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	I’m located at 2621 Lupine ave there’s a chemical odor in the air
Lupine Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	Hello this is Bessie Johnson.  I was standing outside on Luoine cross street of Chippewa if I’m not mistaken and I didn’t see anything but I smelled a foul odor coming out of the air.  And once again this is Bessie JOhnson and my address is 1501 Seneca and I smelled something yesterday, more of a rotten egg type smell and I really didn’t see anything.  And I’m currently smelling gas in my house and I had it checked and I have yet to get reported that I have a gas leak.  THank you.
2550 Lobelia Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	7am -11am today sulpher smell. 6:30pm-8:00pm 4 different smells caused me to cough. Address 2550 Lobeila Ave, Baton Rouge, LA. Susan Boudreaux
Lupine Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	Chemical odor thats causing headache on lupine street may 5 13 at 7:55pm name laronica douglas
2732 Lupine Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	Yes I am at 2732 Lupine.  There’s a bad smell in the area and it has me feeling nauseous.  You can give me a call back at 397-2323.  Thank you.
Baton Rouge, LA, USA	my name is Chantay  Eackels .and I live buy exxon and I smell a bad odor
Lupine Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	Hi I’m on Lupine.  I smell the chemicals right now.
Lupine Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	I’m in the subdivision right across from the Exxon plant on Lupine Street.  It’s a bad smell in the neighborhoood…Extremely…can’t hardly breathe.
2768 Lupine Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	Strong smell,  suffocAting.  Eyes are burning and headache coming on
2757 Sorrel Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70805, USA	Bad odor like dead meat on 2757 sorrel ave at 6:45pm on 5-7-13
2824 Pimpernel Ave, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States	Across the street from Exxon.  Wind blowing from north west.  Scratchy throat and headache coming on

 

Yesterday I was attending a community meeting of the Standard Heights Neighborhood Association on Lupine Avenue across from Honeywell chemical plant and the ExxonMobil Refinery in North Baton Rouge.  The acrid smell of chemicals was pervasive throughout the meeting.  Many people called and texted into the map throughout the night during and after the meeting.

April 2013 iWitness Pollution Map Report

By Risha Bera, Monitoring & Evaluation Associate 

The iWitness Pollution Map allows concerned citizens or other eyewitnesses to report accidents at oil refineries and chemical plants. The map also displays National Response Center (NRC) reports of chemical accidents in the state of Louisiana and the surrounding Gulf of Mexico waters.

Highlights from the iWitness Map in April’13!

442 reports were made to the iWitness Pollution Map; industry reported 210 accidents to the National Response Center.

Over 130 residents in the greater New Orleans area reported their location, odor observation, and health effects during a refinery accident in Chalmette.

23 Shreveport reports described odors, flares, and health effects associated with Calumet Lubricants refinery

17 reports from Baton Rouge described funky odors and associated health effects.

 

Cloudy with a Chance of Yuck

By Anna Hrybyk, Program Director

April 24th in the Metro New Orleans area was a rainy day.  On rainy days I have come to expect foul odors from refinery accidents because the heavily corroded infrastructure can’t handle the rain.  We received four reports to the iWitness Pollution Map of burning and sulfur odors within a short time frame on April 24th, following almost exactly the pattern of the rain that morning.

http://www.oilspill.labucketbrigade.org/reports/view/9985
“Sulfury sewage smell.”  Uptown New Orleans 8:53am

http://www.oilspill.labucketbrigade.org/reports/view/9993
“Big waft of bad egg smell floated through Holy Cross about 11:45 am, during the storm. Smell lasted about an hour, even in driving rain/wind.”

http://www.oilspill.labucketbrigade.org/reports/view/9990
“The burning smell that I’ve called about before started faintly this morning…now I guess about 12 o’clock and it’s quite severe.” Gretna 12:53pm

http://www.oilspill.labucketbrigade.org/reports/view/9992
“Just reporting a really bad smell almost burns your nose. Smells like something’s burning.”  Gretna 13:45pm

Anytime I see a cluster of reports like that, the same location, date and time, I forward that on to LDEQ to see if they have heard anything from the area facilities.  Corroborating citizen observations, LDEQ’s Emergency Responder Peter Ricca wrote back:

“Ms. Hrybyk:

DEQ was notified that Chevron Oronite had an SO2 release this morning by the DPS HazMat Hotline.  Additionally, my local ER responder was directly notified of the release by the local State Police hazmat  trooper.  Chevron Oronite made that notification as required under state law.  The State Police Hazardous Incident number is 13-01770.  While that facility  is located in Belle Chasse and some distance from the reported odors, our regional office will be investigating this facility as well as several other facilities permitted to emit SO2 as well.  If required, Chevron Oronite will file a written report within 7 days of the notification outlining the cause, environmental impact, steps taken to prevent similar incidents from re-occurring, etc.”

Your reports of petrochemical odors continue to be one of the best ways we know that a refinery accident is in progress.  Without your reports, we may have to wait years before we read the refinery’s own report to LDEQ that something harmful was released.  Thank you from all of us at LABB and keep up the reporting!

Down By the River Open House

By Kristen Evans, Art-to-Action Coordinator

The 1811 Slave Revolt – the largest in North America – happened along River Road, in the same location where plantations have now become chemical plants. Can we draw on that spirit of resistance today to fight the petrochemical polluters who have taken the physical place of the slaveholders?

“If my ancestors can have their heads put onto stakes because they dared to rebel against slavery, I can surely stand up to Shell.” Margie Richard, former President, Concerned Citizens of Norco, Goldman Award Winner 2004.

If you have ever taken a tour of a plantation along River Road, you were probably shocked at what is NOT included — like a realistic description of slavery, or of the 1811 Slave Revolt, or anything about that massive refinery right next door making that horrible smell.

On Wednesday April 24, thirty five students and professors from Xavier and Tulane presented many stories of life along River Road that need to be better known! – what it was like growing up in Norco next to the Shell Refinery, about the slaves and prisoners who built the levees, Sauve Crevasse and more. We heard about the levee-top bike tour, archival research, critiques of River Road tourism, historical maps and oral histories. We saw a hilarious press conference by “refinery executives”, a entire news segment dedicated to refinery abuses, and personal stories by “mothers from a refinery community”.

This event was the culmination of months of research and creative effort. Congratulations to the students and to Professors Lisa Flanagan, Kristin Wintersteen and Ross Louis from the fantastic work!

All of these stories is building towards the launch of our Down by the River project, a multidimensional environmental and African-American history media platform that weaves together interactive online maps, oral histories, site-specific performance and a walking/biking tour…to encourage us to explore the connection of people and place along the Mississippi River Road between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana…and inspire us all to advocate for environmental justice.

Stay tuned! We will launch the website in the fall of 2013.

Down By the River is a project of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade in collaboration with the Louisiana Museum of African-American History, Tulane University, Xavier University and other partners. Thanks to Jakob Rosenzweig, Leon Waters, Richard Campanella, Laura Murphy, Tulane’s Center for Public Service, Newcomb Institute, Amistad Research Center, Louisiana Research Collection at Tulane, the Center for Engaged Learning and Teaching at Tulane, Xavier University Center for Student Leadership and Service, Newcomb-Tulane College Dean’s Office for support of Fall 2012-Spring 2013 course activities.

Three Years Later

Anne Rolfes, Founding Director

The end of the BP trial last week coincided with the three year anniversary of the company’s disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. This poetic timing is in contrast to the ugly reality before us: livelihoods destroyed, wildlife at risk. Yet Louisiana can learn and improve from this disaster. Here are three things you can do to make the oil industry more accountable in this state:

1.      Call or write our Senators and tell them to stop acting as spokespeople for the oil industry. Who calls himself a climate change skeptic? David Vitter. Who wants to lift the ban on BP drilling in our Gulf? Mary Landrieu. Every time you hear or read or see these two in the news spouting the oil industry’s line, contact their office. The only way they will defend us instead of the oil industry is if we make them do it.

Senator Landrieu contact: online form or (202) 224-5824.

Senator Vitter contact: online form or (202) 224-4623

2.      Report oil industry accidents if you see them by texting or calling  (504) 272-7645. Need an easy way to remember that? 27 27 OIL! Plug that number into your phone. If you don’t see any accidents in progress you can keep apprised of them via the Refinery Accident Database and the iWitness Pollution Map.

3.      Follow other groups and individuals working on these issues: Gulf Monitoring Consortium, Bob Marshall of The Lens, Gulf Restoration Network.

Reforming the oil industry is daunting. But it is also possible.