The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (“LDEQ”) and International-Matex Tank Terminals LLC (“IM”) entered into a July 9th Settlement Agreement (“SA”) addressing alleged violations of the Louisiana air regulations. See AE-PP-24-00641.
The SA provides that IM owns and/or operates a bulk liquid handling and storage facility located in St. Rose, Louisiana.
The facility is stated to operate pursuant to the authority of a Clean Air Act Title V Air Permit.
A fire is stated to have occurred on April 3, 2023 at the facility’s Tank N22 when a spark from welding activity ignited vapor from natural gas condensate in the tank. A representative of the company is stated to have reported that two welding contractors were working on EQT 163, which contained natural gas condensate and Shell Fire Department /Emergency Response Team Valero FD/ERT, Norco FD and the company’s ERT responded to the fire.
LDEQ inspectors subsequently arrived at the site and conducted air monitoring identifying 0.1 parts per million SO2, but all other parameters were non-detect with normal oxygen readings. The fire was extinguished on April 3 at 10:40 P.M.
The SA alleges the following violations:
- Failure to notify the Louisiana Department of Public Safety (DPS) 24-hour Louisiana Emergency Hazardous Materials Hotline by telephone immediately, but no later than one (1) hour, after learning of an emergency condition, which is defined as:
- “any condition which could reasonably be expected to endanger the health and safety of the public, cause significant adverse impact to the land, water or air environment, or cause severe damage to property.”
- Failure to properly use or diligently maintain in proper working order any air pollution control equipment, device or contrivance, operating procedure, or abatement scheme whenever any emissions are being made to aid in controlling the overall levels of air contaminants into the atmosphere.
IM denies it committed any violations or that it is liable for any fines, forfeitures, and/or penalties.
A civil penalty of $11,283 is assessed.
A copy of the SA can be found here.
The Between the Lines blog is made available by Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C. and the law firm publisher. The blog site is for educational purposes only, as well as to give general information and a general understanding of the law. This blog is not intended to provide specific legal advice. Use of this blog site does not create an attorney client relationship between you and Mitchell Williams or the blog site publisher. The Between the Lines blog site should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.