Concerned Citizens Around Murphy

Saturday, June 2, 2012

sulfur dioxide levels

St. Bernard Parish Louisiana experienced 22 days in May 2012 with sulfur dioxide levels above 12 parts per billion SO2. At 12 ppb SO2, sulfur dioxide is said to cause headaches and other adverse quality of life.

The EPA one-hour health standard is 75 ppb SO2. St Bernard Parish experienced three days in May 2012 with sulfur dioxide levels above that health standard. Those SO2 levels were 120 ppb, 121.3 ppb and 77.5 ppb SO2.

Louisiana DEQ has designated St Bernard Parish non-attainment for sulfur dioxide levels and EPA is expected to make a formal announcement this summer 2012.

On June 2, 2010, the U.S. EPA established a new 1-hour Sulfur Dioxide standard, effective August 23, 2010, which is based on the 3-year average of the annual 99th percentile of 1-hour daily maximum concentrations. EPA expects to designate areas of non-attainment for the new health sulfur standard by June 2012.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Air Quality Report

Air Quality Report -- some of the higher readings from St. Bernard Parish's three air monitors: :
LDEQ's CH_Vista in Chalmette Vista and Meraux at Joe Davies School available at this link. Right hand column menu, click ON AIR icon, select site data, select either CH_Vista or Meraux. Valero's Ventura Drive monitor in Floral Estates available at this link. For benzene and other VOC data, select Documents, click report to view.


May 2012 Air Quality Readings
Sulfur Dioxide levels of 12 ppb can trigger headaches
EPA one hour health standard is 75 ppb Sulfur Dioxide
Ozone action day triggered at 75 ppb
Hydrogen Sulfide 1.4 ppb recommended daily exposure (WHO)
H2S ambient air concentrations from natural sources
have been estimated to be 0.11 ppb and 0.33 ppb.
Concentrations of H2S in urban areas are generally
less than 1 ppb H2S


			Hydrogen Sulfide &
			Sulfur Dioxide


5/1/2012	3am	Ventura	4 ppb H2S
	4am	Ventura	3 ppb H2S

5/2/2012	9am	Ventura	PM10 - 33
	2pm	Ch_Vista	6 ppb H2S
		Ventura	48 ppb SO2
			3 ppb H2S
	3pm	Ch_Vista	3 ppb H2S
		Ventura	120 ppb SO2
		Ventura	2 ppb H2S
	5pm	Ch_Vista	35.7 ppb SO2

5/3/2012	9am	Ch_Vista	11.8 ppb SO2
	10am	Ch_Vista	11.3 ppb SO2
	11am	Ch_Vista	15.5 ppb SO2

5/4/2012	7pm	Ch_Vista	23 ppb SO2
	10pm	Ch_Vista	4 ppb H2S

5/5/2012	1am	Ventura	4 ppb H2S
	2am	Meraux	9.0 ppb SO2
		Ventura	4 ppb H2S
	3am	Meraux	6.6 ppb SO2
		Ventura	4 ppb H2S
	7pm	Ch_Vista	26.9 ppb SO2

5/6/2012	2am	Meraux	4 ppb H2S
		Ventura	4 ppb H2S
	3am	Ventura	4 ppb H2S

Canister sampling results @ Ventura monitor
	http://lena.providenceeng.com/Reports/CAMs%20Lab%20Data%205-6-12.pdf

				PM 10
5/7/2012	2am	Ventura	3 ppb H2S
	3am	Ventura	4 ppb H2S
	4am	Ch_Vista	PM10 - 45
		Ventura	4 ppb H2S
	5am	Ventura	4 ppb H2S	35
	6am	Ventura	3 ppb H2S	34

	2pm	Ch_Vista	33.3 ppb SO2
	4pm	Ch_Vista	24.4 ppb SO2

5/8/2012	midnight	Ch_Vista	31.5 ppb SO2

5/9/2012	5am	Ventura	PM10 - 35

5/10/2012	4am	Ventura	4 ppb H2S
	5am	Ventura	5 ppb H2S
	6pm	Ch_Vista	31.2 ppb SO2
	8pm	Ventura	PM10 - 39
	10pm	Ventura	PM10 - 38

5/11/2012	12am	Ch_Vista	13.0 ppb SO2
	4am	Ventura	3 ppb H2S
	5am	Meraux	4 ppb H2S
		Ventura	3 ppb H2S
	9am	Ventura	PM10 - 44
	2pm	Ventura	PM10 - 41

5/12/2012	9am	Ch_Vista	50.3 ppb SO2
	11am	Ch_Vista	54.4 ppb SO2
	4pm	Ch_Vista	33.4 ppb SO2
	6pm	Ch_Vista	20.2 ppb SO2

Canister sampling results @ Ventura monitor
http://lena.providenceeng.com/Reports/CAMs%20Lab%20Data%205-12-12.pdf


5/15/2012	5am	Ventura	PM10 - 56
	5pm	Ventura	PM10 - 44
	6pm	Ch_Vista	34.6 ppb SO2
		Ch_Vista	3 ppb H2S
	7pm	Ch_Vista	65.6 ppb SO2
		Ch_Vista	3 ppb H2S

5/16/2012	2am	Meraux	5 ppb H2S
		Ventura	5ppb H2S PM10	39
	3am	Meraux	6 ppb H2S
	4am	Ventura	4 ppb H2S
	11am	Meraux	22 ppb H2S
	2pm	Ventura	PM10 - 40

5/17/2012	5am	Meraux	4 ppb H2S
		SO2 monitor down at Meraux
	3pm	Ventura	PM10 - 41
	4pm	Ventura	PM10 - 41

5/18/2012	2am	Ventura	4 ppb H2S
	3am	Ventura	4 ppb H2S
	6am	Ventura	PM10 - 56
	4pm	Meraux	Ozone 75 ppb
		Ventura	PM10 - 52
	8pm	Ventura	PM10 - 54
	9pm	Ventura	PM10 -61


5/19/2012	3am	Ch_Vista	4 ppb H2S
	5am	Ventura	5ppb H2S PM10	44
	6am	Ventura	5 ppb H2S
	9p	Ch_Vista	31 ppb SO2
	10pm	Ventura	PM 10 - 44
	11pm	Ventura	PM 10 - 89

5/20/2012	2am	Meraux	8 ppb H2S
	3am	Meraux	5 ppb H2S
	4am	Meraux	6 ppb H2S
	5am	Meraux	4 ppb H2S
		Ch_Vista	8 ppb H2S
		Ventura	5 ppb H2S
	7pm	Ch_Vista	14.6 ppb SO2
	8pm	Ventura	PM10 - 45

5/21/2012	1am	Ventura	6 ppb H2S
	2am	Ventura	5 ppb H2S
	3am	Ventura	4 ppb H2S
		Ventura	9 ppb SO2
	6am	Ventura	PM10 - 62
	8am	Ch_Vista	PM10 - 56
	10am	Meraux	Ozone 70
	8pm	Ventura	PM10 - 60
	10pm	Ch_Vista	PM10 - 63
	11pm	Meraux	4 ppb H2S

5/22/2012	2am	Ventura	4 ppb H2S
	4am	Meraux	5 ppb H2S
	5am	Meraux	6 ppb H2S
	1pm	Meraux	Ozone 73
	3pm	Ventura	PM10 - 45
	6pm	Ch_Vista	14.7 ppb SO2
	8pm	Ch_Vista	18.9 ppb SO2
		Ch_Vista	9 ppb H2S
	11pm	Ventura	4 ppb H2S

5/23/2012	2am	Ventura	9 ppb SO2
	2am	Meraux	19.6 ppb SO2
		Meraux	3 ppb H2S
	3am	Ventura	4 ppb H2S
	6am	Ch_Vista	PM10 - 66
		Ventura	PM10 - 74
	7am	Ch_Vista	PM10 - 64
		Ventura	PM10 - 55
	9am	Ventura	9 ppb SO2
	noon	Ch_Vista	PM10 - 45
	1pm	Meraux	Ozone 77
	2pm	Ventura	PM10 - 66
	5pm	Ch_Vista	21.2 ppb SO2
		Ch_Vista	3 ppb H2S
		Ch_Vista	PM10 - 42
	6pm	Ch_Vista	14.7 ppb SO2
		Ch_Vista	14.1 ppb SO2
		Meraux	8 ppb SO2
		Meraux	11 ppb SO2
	8pm	Ch_Vista	12 ppb H2S
		Ch_Vista	PM10 - 49
	9pm	Ch_Vista	5 ppb H2S
		Ventura	12 ppb SO2
	10pm	Ventura	11 ppb SO2

5/24/2012	2am	Ventura	4 ppb H2S
	3am	Ventura	4 ppb H2S
	4am	Ventura	5 ppb H2S
		Ventura	17 ppb SO2
	5am	Ventura	5 ppb H2S
		Ventura	15 ppb SO2
	6am	Ventura	5 ppb H2S
	6am	Ch_Vista	PM10 - 49
	7am	Ch_Vista	26.9 ppb SO2
		Ch_Vista	PM10 - 50
	8am	Ch_Vista	18.8 ppb SO2
	9am	Ch_Vista	25.6 ppb SO2
	10am	Ch_Vista	22.0 ppb SO2
	11am	Ch_Vista	33.7 ppb SO2
	noon	Ch_Vista	22.4 ppb SO2
	1pm	Ch_Vista	28.5 ppb SO2
	2pm	Ch_Vista	41.1 ppb SO2
	3pm	Ch_Vista	54.7 ppb SO2
	4pm	Ch_Vista	36.3 ppb SO2
	5pm	Ch_Vista	77.5 ppb SO2
	6pm	Ch_Vista	68.6 ppb SO2

5/25/2012	midnight	Ch_Vista	15 ppb SO2
	2am	Ch_Vista	121.3 ppb SO2
		Ch_Vista	5 ppb H2S
	3am	Ch_Vista	27.8 ppb SO2
	5am	Ventura	4 ppb H2S
	6am	Ventura	5 ppb H2S
		Meraux	4 ppb H2S
	7am	Ventura	5 ppb H2S
		Meraux	5 ppb H2S
	8pm	Ventura	PM10 - 42
		Ch_Vista	16.5 ppb SO2
	11pm	Ch_Vista	7 ppb H2S

5/26/2012	3am	Ventura	6 ppb H2S
	4am	Meraux	4 ppb H2S
		Ventura	9 ppb H2S
	5am	Meraux	9 ppb H2S
		Ventura	11 ppb H2S
	6am	Meraux	8 ppb H2S
		Ventura	8 ppb H2S
		Ch_Vista	4 ppb H2S
	7am	Ventura	6 ppb H2S
	7pm	Ch_Vista	11.3 ppb SO2
	8pm	Ch_Vista	15.4 ppb SO2
		Ventura	6 ppb SO2
	9pm	Ch_Vista	10.2 ppb SO2

5/27/2012	2am	Ventura	4 ppb H2S
		Ventura	PM10 - 50
	4am	Ventura	4 ppb H2S
	6pm	Ventura	PM10 - 50
	7pm	Ventura	PM10 - 60
	9pm	Ch_Vista	12.3 ppb SO2
		Ch_Vista	PM10 - 65
		Ventura	PM10 - 57
	11pm	Ch_Vista	PM10 - 57

5/28/2012	1am	Ventura	PM10 - 56
	1pm	Ch_Vista	PM10 - 53
	2pm	Ventura	PM10 - 57
		Meraux	Ozone 64
	3pm	Ventura	PM10 - 59
	6pm	Ventura	PM10 - 56
		Meraux	13 ppb SO2
	9pm	Ventura	PM10 - 56

5/29/2012	midnight	Ventura	14 ppb SO2
	1am	Ventura	14 ppb SO2
	9am	Ventura	PM10 -80
	10am	Ventura	PM10 - 60
	noon	Meraux	Ozone 65
	1pm	Meraux	Ozone 77
		Ch_Vista	PM10 - 47

5/30/2012	1am	Meraux	13.1 ppb SO2
		Ventura	15 ppb SO2
	2am	Meraux	15.0 ppb SO2
		Ventura	11.0 ppb SO2
	10am	Ch_Vista	PM10 - 63
	3pm	Ch_Vista	21.1 ppb SO2
	4pm	Ch_Vista	20.4 ppb SO2

5/31/2012	3am	Meraux	4 ppb H2S
	5am	Ch_Vista	6 ppb H2S
	6am	Ch_Vista	5 ppb H2S
		Ch_Vista	35.1 ppb SO2
	7am	Ch_Vista	5 ppb H2S
		Ch_Vista	29.8 ppb SO2
	8am	Ch_Vista	15.9 ppb SO2




Health Standards
SO2	75 ppb hourly average
H2S	1.4 ppb recommended daily exposure
PM 2.5	35

Waste Not Want Not

The waste water treatment plant design requires flows to the ponds and canals which will never fully meet LPDES requirements. [*] This is a violation of the Clean Water Act.

AND, it's completely avoidable.

In fact, the permit does not require sampling of the waste flow from the waste treatment facilities (south of Judge Perez) to the conveyance ditch which feeds the ponds (north of Judge Perez). The only sample of this flow is after it has been diluted with the ponds and before it is discharged into the local canals.

The applicant should be prohibited from ever sending chemicals or waste waters to any of the canals. The permit should prohibit -- under any conditions -- ever sending waste flows north of Judge Perez to the earthen conveyance ditches, storm water ponds or basins interconnected to the ponds, because any chemicals and materials sent north of the waste treatment facility goes into our neighborhoods and sensitive Central Wetlands.

The permit should prohibit storage and treatment of wastes north of Judge Perez. Once the refinery wastes are sent to the Secondary stormwater basins or ponds, it is impossible to send it back for treatment, because, by that time, it is already mixed with the pond's water.

Even the smallest portion of wastes will have long term effects on the ecology system. (page 13 Vol. 1)

[*] Murphy Oil USA Inc. Solid Waste permit application for secondary storm water basins or "ponds" (not yet public noticed)

Vol 1 http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=7885455&ob=yes&child=yes

Vol 2 http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=7885902&ob=yes&child=yes

The ponds discharge into the local canals, which meander through neighborhoods before discharging in the sensitive Central Wetlands, Bayou Bienvenue, and Lake Bornge. The plan to prevent the refinery process campus from flooding is to release process campus storm water through the same route; if there is a backup of storm water on the process campus, it overflows onto residential streets. The requirement to maintain the ponds with adequate freeboard is sometimes met with similar discharges. The design of the waste treatment facilities, when it rains or malfunctions is to store the harmful chemicals and wastes in an unlined ditch within very close proximity to a Church which hosts vacation bible school for children. It is impossible to send all the contaminants back from the ponds to the waste treatment facility for treatment and all these wastes and chemicals are eventually discharged into our neighborhoods or released into our air.

And it's completely avoidable by segregating process water and waste streams from storm water and instead piping malfunctions and "emergency" discharges to storage tanks, treatment ponds on the river side (away from human inhabitants), or into the river itself.

Allowing storage and partial treatment of the wastes in the storm water ponds exposes our residents to harmful and carcinogenic chemicals. Discharges have a lasting effect on the estuaries and environment.

DEQ must consider alternatives to sending chemicals and wastes into the canals and alternatives to storage of chemicals and wastes north of Judge Perez.

UPDATE MARCH 2012
DEQ concluded (page 80) that by providing personal income for the facility's permanent and contract employees outweigh the environmental costs.
http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8330751&ob=yes&child=yes

Public Meetings

Tuesday November 15, 2011 6:30pm

The monthly public meetings are open to the public and scheduled to convene on the third Tuesday of the month at the former Murphy Oil Administration Building, 1615 East Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette. .
*Updates on EPA Consent Decree Provisions
*Ambient air monitor station

http://lena.providenceeng.com/Default.aspx

The new air monitor on Ventura Drive in Chalmette samples our air for benzene, toluene, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide and other chemicals. The monitoring results post on the public website: http://lena.providenceeng.com/Default.aspx

Murphy Oil has also provided computer access in the public library.

Preservation Priority

The Villere Plantation was listed as a War of 1812 Preservation Priority in the 2007 American Battlefield Protection Program Report to Congress. "The priorities indicate which sites, in the opinion of the National Park Service, merit immediate preservation action, which need ongoing preservation action, which require additional study, and which are best suited for commemoration rather than preservation."

http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/Rev1812_Final_Report.pdf

The recent EPA Consent Decree with Murphy Oil agreed to a conservation servitude for the Villere Plantation land area of the crop fields drainage machine. The conservation servitude unfortunately expires in approximately 7 to 10 years along with the consent decree.

http://concernedcitizensaroundmurphy.blogspot.com/2011/04/villere-plantation-ruins.html

Islenos