By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – An environmental watchdog group recently released a study showing that refineries and chemical plants across the state have a poor record of accidents resulting in the release of millions of pounds of chemicals into the air and water

The findings of the report, compiled by the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, show that between 2005 and 2009, the plants reported 2,607 accidents to state officials at the Department of Environmental Quality. Those who compiled the report say the information should serve as a warning sign to prevent future disasters similar to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

“Many of the accidents are preventable if these plants would take the steps to solve the problems,” said Bucket Brigade Director Anne Rolfes. “This is not about shutting down these plants. We want to assist them in saving their product and protecting their surroundings.”

Of the 10 plants listed in the report, four of them – Marathon Petroleum, Valero Refining, Motiva Enterprises of Norco and Motiva of Convent – are situated within the River Parishes. Those four plants only account for about 560 of the total reported accidents, but Bucket Brigade researchers said that figure could be skewed.

“Many refineries are under reporting accidents,” said researcher Benjamin Leger. “The plants have different descriptions as to what exactly constitutes an accident, or how much emissions are needed before it is reported.”

Leger said the report, “Common Ground II: Why Cooperation to Reduce Accidents at Louisiana Refineries is Needed Now,” is the second attempt by the Bucket Brigade to counter what has been a “knee-jerk response from government and industry that any source of attention to this problem will be bad for the economy.” The entire report can be viewed at www.labucketbrigade.org.

“We want to work with them to assist them in implementing initiatives that prevent these releases,” said Leger. “Bringing attention to problems plaguing refineries, such as weather protection, inferior equipment and lack of maintenance, will help them in the long run.”

Leger said storm preparedness is a continued problem for refineries, despite the fact that rain and tropical storms are part of life in Louisiana. The report indicated that 27 percent of all accident emissions to the air and 64 percent of emissions to the ground and water occurred during bad weather.

“Refineries often claim these accidents are ‘acts of God,’ ignoring the preventable measures and hurricane preparedness protocols that could save money and prevent damage,” Leger said.

Leger said his organization has gotten little to no response from refineries regarding the groups report.

He added that representatives for the plants site what they describe as errors in the figures compiled.

Leger said a roundtable discussion with representatives from DEQ, the Environmental Protection Agency and officials from each of the refineries was scheduled last February in response to the first version of the group’s first report on accidents, but the idea got little response.

None of the area refineries were willing to comment on the report citing pending litigation.

Officials with the DEQ raised questions about some of the numbers in the report and defended the accident responses of both the department and the refineries.

DEQ spokesman Rodney Mallet said the agency works in conjunction with the EPA and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to ensure that the refineries have programs in place when it comes to weather events. He said it is generally hard to predict how a weather event will affect operations.

“In recent hurricane situations we have made an effort to remind refineries of the impending storm,” Mallet said. “We make sure that a plan is in action, but there is no limit to what can happen.”

Mallet agreed that an open dialogue is a good step in the right direction toward determining what the state and the refineries can do to reduce emissions, but said it is important that all information is accurate and truthful.

“We all have a responsibility to keep our environment clean,” said Mallet. “But no one should go into this with a specific agenda.”