By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

NORCO – A leak from a dockside transfer pipeline at the Valero St. Charles Refinery resulted in a spill of about 80 gallons of sulfuric acid into the Mississippi River Thursday afternoon, according to a refinery spokesman.

Ron Guillory, a spokesman for the Norco refinery, said the leak occurred about 4 p.m. Thursday while a transfer pump was transferring sulfuric acid from a storage tank to a process unit. He said the leak came from residual acid in the pipeline, which was not in service.

“Upon discovery of the leak, refinery employees immediately reported it to the National Response Center, which monitors chemical spills of that nature,” Guillory said. “A representative from the Department of Environmental Quality was also notified.”

Guillory said one employee at the refinery was treated for a facial irritation as a result of the leak.

He said the employee was given first aid at the scene for a burn to his cheek.

There was no impact on production at the refinery.

The refinery has not determined what exactly caused the leak and officials still are not certain exactly how much acid leaked from the pipe.

Guillory said the refinery estimated that at least 1,000 pounds of the chemical were sent into the river over an 80-minute time frame, which is the federal reporting threshold. He explained that a gallon of sulfuric acid weighs about 12 to 14 pounds, whereas a gallon of water weighs about 8 pounds.

Tim Beckstrom, a spokesman for DEQ, said a department scientist is investigating the spill, but he said there is no indication that the leak posed a safety concern.

St. Charles Parish officials said the parish water supply was not in danger of contamination since the spill occurred downstream from the parish’s water intake pumps.

“The chemical is able to be neutralized quite quickly, given the PH of sulfuric acid,” Beckstrom said.