[StBernard] St. Bernard refinery in Meraux says it tries to be good neighbor

[Westley Annis]

A good neighbor operates on a daily basis in a way that demonstrates respect
for the people who reside on the other side of the fence.  That's not
happening with industry in St Bernard Parish.
. 
There is a need to address the same issues in the Meraux neighborhood on the
eastern side of the facility where a new hydrogen plant with steam
generation and a third flare is planned for next year. Residents in these
households experience similar adverse health and other offsite effects but
have been treated differently and are not included in Valero's yet to be
revealed ""buffer zone"" plan.  St Bernard sort of treats people and
neighborhoods around industry like collateral. Is there some sort of
prearrangement with SBPG with certain approval of plans for the facility IF
certain houses --- but not others  --- and certainly not the surrounding
businesses --- are bought out?  How does Valero define ""buffer zone"" and
what is SBPG trading neighborhoods for?

 
Meanwhile, the facility is allowed to violate local codes because offers
have been made to purchase certain homes, yet the buy ups of residential
property for industrial use do not solve the core cause of the issues.  Is
there a root cause analysis that shows the vibrations of houses 5 and 6
blocks out and the various sources of noise violations  --- measured in the
high 70's and 60's (decibels) for hours,  sometimes days on end ---  will
cease if certain houses one and two blocks out are purchased?  With more and
more workers who reside in homes purchased under the pretense of a green
space or green belt and the ever increasing industrial traffic on several of
these streets, neither SBPG nor the industry are keeping the promise not to
use the residential streets (a promise that was one of the conditions for
the zoning change for the petrochemical testing lab). 
 
What's next?
 
http://s786.photobucket.com/user/concerned_citizens_2010/media/2013/ValeroMe
rauxflaresinMerauxLouisiana_zps68b7d372.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0