On October 25, 2005, Acord Transportation from Chandler, Oklahoma picked up a load of 9,997 gallons of propane from the Coffeyville Resources Refinery in Coffeyville, Kansas. The Bill of Lading (#033996) for the load showed a loading start time of 10:10am and a finish time of 10:58am. The entire load was delivered to Green County Propane dba Stevesons LP Gas in Sallisaw, Ok. At the time of the delivery Stevesons 30,000 gallon tank was at 11% capacity. The load (BOL #033996) was then delivered to 76 customers between October 25, 2005 and November 4, 2005. Stevesons received another load of propane on November 4, 2005 at which time the tank was at 5.5% capacity.
After receiving their load of propane from (BOL #03396) several customers of Stevesons began to notice problems at their homes which started as etching on glass items, windows, brass items, door knobs, etc. The same residents also complained of respiratory problems, sinus problems and burning eyes. These problems were noted in homes containing unvented propane appliances. Subsequent sampling was conducted by an insurance company that collected scrapings from glass mirrors and windows inside an affected residence and the results exhibited elevated concentrations of fluorides.
EPA sent a 104(e) request to Coffeyville Resources asking for details of the affected propane and then mobilized to the site on October 24, 2006. Sample collection began on October 26th. Samples were collected from Stevesons 30,000 gallon distribution tank, three of Stevesons trucks and from 16 residential propane tanks. Sample results from the original load of propane showed elevated concentrations in the 1000-5000 parts per million range for total fluorides.
