[StBernard] Spill at plant in St. Bernard

[Westley Annis]

Spill at plant in St. Bernard

Dave Cohen Reporting
Crews shut down Saint Bernard Highway Friday afternoon "because of a release
of an oil-like liquid."

Sheriff's spokesman Steve Cannizaro says the chemical sprayed on the road
and vehicles outside the Valero Meraux Refinery

"A number of Sheriff's vehicles, at least two school buses and numerous
other vehicles were struck by the dark spray as they passed on the roadway
or were parked in a lot across the street and south of railroad tracks that
parallel the highway," according to Cannizaro.

He says no one was hurt. 

"Refinery officials had spoken to a number of vehicle owners about having
vehicles cleaned. The exact number of vehicles affected wasn't immediately
known."

The incident also forced traffic to detour.

"About a one-mile section of East St. Bernard Highway from Jacob Drive in
eastern Chalmette to Munster Drive in Meraux was closed by the Sheriff's
Office because of the problem," Sheriff  James Pohlmann said.

Louisiana State Police hazardous materials officials responded to conduct an
investigation and oversee cleanup.  The sheriff's office and fire department
were also on scene.

"A private firm, U.S. Environmental Services, was called and sand was being
placed on the road to absorb the liquid and would be removed afterward, then
the highway could be opened," according to Cannizaro.

WWL TV reports that a Valero plant spokeswoman says around 2:30 p.m. a
"small amount of oil" released from the crude unit at the facility and
spilled on to the highway, and that a plug on a pipeline running across St.
Bernard Highway failed, according to State Police, causing the spill.