[StBernard] Press Release

[Westley Annis]

						Murphy Refinery's Accident
Sickens Neighbors Coast Guard Notified 

							
							Neighbors of
Troubled Refinery Demanding Changes 

				
				(Meraux, LA) Providing still further
evidence of its inability to properly manage its refinery during rainfall,
Murphy Oil released oil water into the neighborhood canal known as the 20
Arpent Canal. Though details of the spill remain murky, residents on Jacob
Drive south of Judge Perez felt the chemical exposure as early as 1 AM on
Sunday morning. The exposure continued throughout the day. "Residents on
Jacob Drive North of Judge Perez (by canal) reported being sick all
morning," said Suzanne Kneale, an officer with Concerned Citizens Around
Murphy. 
				 
				This latest release comes on the heels of
last week's Common Ground report that detailed Murphy's high accident rate -
one per week - over the past four years. The most well known of its
accidents was the 2005 million gallon oil spill, the largest land based oil
spill in history. "This latest spill is part of a pattern," said Anne
Rolfes, Director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade. "We're in South Louisiana
yet Murphy can't handle rain." 
				 
				In addition to Murphy's pattern of
accidents, this latest spill highlights both the state and Murphy's failure
to address the problem of human exposure during chemical accidents. Despite
feeling the health impacts, no one was evacuated. "My neighbor contacted me
just before noon that her sister was sick all morning from the strong
chemical smell," said Ms. Kneale. 
				 
				
				Residents are calling for a comprehensive
review of evacuation protocol. Residents also want the refinery to reroute
the storm water and oily water discharges so not to foul neighborhood canals
and nearby wetlands with every rain event. 
				 
				"Neighborhood children scoop and fish from
this canal," said Ms. Kneale. "It's not uncommon to see crab traps in this
area. The central wetlands are just a block further north. Allowing an
emergency discharge into neighborhood canals is not protective of the
environment and undermines our health." 
				

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