United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region VI
POLLUTION REPORT



Date:
Monday, August 3, 2009
From:
Mark Hayes

To:
R6 PolRep TX, Response and Prevention Branch
Debbie Dietrich, Office of Emergency Management
Sam Coleman, Superfund Division
Chris Petersen, Superfund Division

Subject: 

Citgo Refinery Fire
1801 Nueces Bay Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX
Latitude: 27.8093090
Longitude: -97.4266880


POLREP No.:
8
Site #:
Reporting Period:
D.O. #:
Start Date:
7/19/2009
Response Authority:
CERCLA
Mob Date:
7/20/2009
Response Type:
Emergency
Demob Date:
 
NPL Status:
Completion Date:
 
Incident Category:
CERCLIS ID #:
Contract #
RCRIS ID #:
 

Site Description

On 19 July 2009, at approximately 0835 hours, an equipment failure resulted causing a fire of released Butane and a potential release of Hydrogen Fluoride from a #2 Alkylation Unit at the Citgo Corpus Christi east plant.  Perimeter monitoring conducted by TCEQ and Citgo did not detect any VOCs or Hydrogen Fluoride.  The fire fighting and water spray suppression appear to have prevented any releases from being detectable at the site perimeter.  One injury resulted from the initial fire.


Current Activities

On 30 July 2009 EPA perimeter air monitoring for VOCs and HF continues to reflect non-detect.  CITGO is depressurizing the unit and is preparing to make the connections to de-inventory the unit.  De-inventory is delayed pending CSB and OSHA approval of the alterations that need to made to remove the inventory from the unit.


Planned Removal Actions

Incident response is being monitored. No removal actions planned at this time.


Next Steps

Continue to Coordinate with state and federal agencies and continue to monitor the situation.


Key Issues

There has been a non-detect of VOCs and HF from air monitoring around the perimeter of the facility.  The pressure in the unit is low and CITGO indicates that all leaks, specifically HF, have stopped.  CITGO is continuing efforts to allow access to the unit. Unauthorized discharge of untreated saltwater used in fire fighting and vapor suppression nearby industrial channel continues.


Estimated Costs *
  Budgeted Total To Date Remaining % Remaining
Extramural Costs
Intramural Costs
 
Total Site Costs $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 0.00%

* The above accounting of expenditures is an estimate based on figures known to the OSC at the time this report was written. The OSC does not necessarily receive specific figures on final payments made to any contractor(s). Other financial data which the OSC must rely upon may not be entirely up-to-date. The cost accounting provided in this report does not necessarily represent an exact monetary figure which the government may include in any claim for cost recovery.


response.epa.gov/CitgoRefineryFireCorpus

POLREP #8 Last Updated 10/15/2009