On July 28, 2007, residents downwind of the Valero Refining, Port Arthur, Texas were reporting odors and illness. The Valero Refinery reported to the NRC (Report 843674) that there had been a release of an estimated 100 pounds of hydrogen sulfide; from a leaking seal on a tank at the facility. Valero reported that an unknown number of people had gone to area hospitals due to exposure to the released material. The local fire department, EPA, and the Texas Committee on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Strike Team responded.
On July 28, 2007, the EPA tasked the EPA Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) to the meet with the TCEQ and performs area monitoring in the neighborhoods downwind of the refinery. The START met a Valero representative and determined the release appeared to have originated from Tank 151, a slop oil tank. As they received complaints around 1300 on July 28, 2007, they investigated and noticed stains on the outside of the tanks and got some low level readings. Valero determined that there was a gap in the secondary seal in the floating roof of Tank 151, a slop oil tank. Valero did air monitoring on Tank 151’s perimeter cat walk, but did not identify any readings above background; this determined the release had stopped. Valero also did air monitoring at the facility’s perimeter and in the neighborhoods, not detect anything. Valero planned to make the repairs on the seal for the tank on 29 July 2007 as the release appeared to have stopped. The TCEQ reported that the fire department had transported 38 people to the hospital, but there may have been some who transported themselves to the hospital. The results of the air monitoring conducted by TCEQ and START in the neighborhood did not detect hydrogen sulfide. The TCEQ concluded the material between the once the material between the secondary and primary seals had been released and the release stopped. The TCEQ departed the site at 1815 hours. The START-3 monitored downwind of Tank 151 and did not detect hydrogen sulfide at several locations downwind. OSC Eric Delgado released the START-3 at 1845 hours.
None.
START will monitor the situation through the TCEQ.
The key issue was to determine the release had stopped and the neighborhood down wind was protected.
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