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.
On 28 July 2009 EPA perimeter air monitoring for VOCs and HF continues to reflect a non-detect. CITGO continues to discharge the seawater used in fire fighting and vapor suppression through Outfall 004, a storm water outfall, at approximately 3,500 gpm. CITGO sampled Outfall 004 at 4 hour intervals for the parameters for storm water plus pH and fluoride. CITGO reports the results are within the NPDES permit limit, with fluoride running equal to and less than 10 ppm. TCEQ is grabbing split samples twice a day and analyzing for the waste water parameters in CITGO’s discharge permit. At 1730 hours CITGO discontinued the usage of saltwater for vapor suppression. Immediately following, CITGO entered the unit to confirm that the leaks were secured, repaired and replaced elements in the unit’s internal monitoring system. At 2025 hours the all clear was sounded by CITGO and decontamination of the unit’s exterior began.
On 29 July 2009 CITGO is depressurizing the unit and is preparing to de-inventory the unit. De-inventory is projected to begin tomorrow and last 2 to 3 days. Once the unit is de-inventoried the internal decontamination will begin with an acid wash, followed by a caustic wash, and completed by a neutralization wash. The internal decontamination is estimated to last 1 to 3 days. There is an estimated 150,000 barrels of fresh water, used during vapor suppression efforts, stored in the secondary containment of Equalization Tanks 116 and 117. The stored fresh water was previously treated with soda ash to adjust the pH from around 2 to 7. CITGO is considering options for disposal of the treated fresh water through additional methods. The fresh water, used during vapor suppression efforts, stored in Equalization Tanks 116 and 117 is being treated with the plant waste and being discharged with elevated fluoride concentrations from Outfall 001.
Incident response is being monitored. No removal actions planned at this time.
Continue to Coordinate with state and federal agencies and continue to monitor the situation.
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.
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