Residents living near the Stolthaven Facility in Plaquemines Parish express concern of contamination and possible health impacts resulting from Hurricane Isaac.
The Stolthaven – Braithwaite Terminal in Plaquemines Parish is a bulk liquid storage terminal that receives and ships hazardous, toxic and non-hazardous products by ship, barge, truck and rail. The facility consist of 91 permitted storage tanks with a total storage volume of 2.4 million barrels.
LEAN – Interview with Russell Gelvin, Sept. 15, 2012 – Stolthaven environmental effects on Braithwaite community after Hurricane Isaac from Jason Berry on Vimeo.
The Stolthaven – Braithwaite Terminal in Plaquemines Parish is a bulk liquid storage terminal that receives and ships hazardous, toxic and non-hazardous products by ship, barge, truck and rail. The facility consist of 91 permitted storage tanks with a total storage volume of 2.4 million barrels.
As a result of Hurricane Isaac the storm surge overtopped the parish levee system west of the Stolthaven Terminal and flooded the facility on August 29, 2012. The storm surge waters flooded the entire terminal facility to a depth in excess of 10 feet above ground level.
Barrel of material, marked as being “hazardous waste,” that washed out with flood waters from Stolthaven into the surrounding environment. Photo by Charley Varley, varleypix.com
Barrels of Hazardous chemicals floated freely from Stolthaven property through the surrounding environment and near-by community. Residents in the area surrouding the Stolthaven Facility expressed outrage about the possible contamination and impacts to the community after Hurricane Isaac and the lack of answers from public officials at a Town Hall meeting on Sept. 19, 2012.
Stolthaven at Community Meeting-Vimeo3k from Jason Berry on Vimeo.
As a result of Hurricane Isaac, sixteen of the storage tanks at the Stolthaven facility were severely damaged, rail cars were washed off the rail lines and derailed, and drums containing hazardous materials floated off site into the neighboring community. The storage tanks were moved off their foundations, floated into other tanks, floated onto dike walls, and had their bottoms and tops damaged. Toxic chemicals were released into the air and water and chemicals migrated off site.
Rail cars and storage tanks at Stolthaven Chemical Facility moved out of place by hurricane Isaac. 9-10-12
On September 17, 2012, the terminal received 1.73 inches of rainfall. Stormwater overtopped the facilities perimeter levee and flowed off site along Hwy 39. A sheen was noted in the ditch along Hwy 39.
On September 20, 2012, two security guards, Gavin Tudury and Laterrel Hill, working in the inventory warehouse of Stolthaven complained of medical conditions. The security guards were transported to the hospital. Stolthaven investigated the situation and did not find a release of regulated hazardous material had occurred nor a source of chemical exposure identified. On September 27, 2012, Stolthaven submitted a letter and report of the incident and requested that the Louisiana State Police close out the incident.
The health impacts reported by Laterrel Hill included chest pains, difficulty breathing, shortness of breathe, vomiting, weakness, and eyes sensitive to light.
Read more about Laterrel Here:
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