NORCO Chemical Release, Equipment Failure; Norco LA

Norco LA | 2009-Sep-27

Initial Notification: On 27 September at approximately 0310 hrs this Sunday Morning (Saturday night if you were asleep like most of the country), the NOAA HAZMAT Duty Officer was notified of a chemical incident by the answering service. The regional NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator was notified of a request for support by Sector New Orleans. An equipment failure at the Shell NORCO Refinery resulted in a release of BENZENE, 1,3 BUTADIENE, ETHYLENE, and PROPANE from an oil “fin” unit due to unknown causes (NRC Notification #918992).