[StBernard] Compliance and Enforcement News Release (Region 6): Calumet Shreveport, LLC Fined for Violating the Clean Air Act

[Westley Annis]

Calumet Shreveport, LLC Fined for Violating the Clean Air Act 

Company will pay $230,000 to settle compliant 

  

(Dallas, Texas - April 7, 2009)  Calumet Shreveport, LLC has agreed to pay
$230,000 to resolve Clean Air Act violations at its Midway Street Lubricants
facility located in Shreveport, Louisiana, the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) announced today.  


  

On October 30, 2008, an accidental release and fire occurred at the
facility's sour water tank while vacuum trucks were removing residual oil
from an open man way.  The fire produced thick black smoke for two hours.
Because of the fire, a federal inspection was conducted November 18-21,
2008, during which EPA identified the violations referenced in today's
settlement.  EPA and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
(LDEQ) worked together in partnership in responding to the incident and in
developing the enforcement response to this incident.    

  

"EPA will continue to vigorously enforce our nation's environmental laws
through a strong enforcement program," said John Blevins, EPA Region 6
Compliance Assurance and Enforcement Division Director.  "When companies
fail to follow the rules, immediate action will be taken to ensure
compliance with the law." 

  

The law requires owners and operators of facilities that produce, process,
handle or store hazardous substances to prevent accidental releases.  The
settlement addresses the company's noncompliance by failing to prevent the
release and fire, and failure to follow its policy requiring sources of
ignition to be removed from the vicinity of a tank before emptying or
venting.  The inspection also found that the company failed to implement
safe work practices and employees did not have vapor monitoring equipment
and lacked proper personal protective equipment.  

  

In addition to the fine, Calumet has agreed to comply with recommendations
in the 

November 24, 2004, and January 16, 2008, Audit Reports prepared for the
company by Process Safety & Reliability Group, Inc.  The company must
certify by October 30, 2009, that the Audit Reports recommendations have
been fully addressed and implemented.  

  

More about activities in EPA Region 6:  http://www.epa.gov/region6
<http://www.epa.gov/region6>  

  

EPA audio file is available at
http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/apr2009.html
<http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/apr2009.html>