New Source Review Protects Families and Communities from Dangerous Pollution

Louisiana Refineries Unwelcome in the Homes and Lives of Fenceline Neighbors
New Sarpy, Norco and Mossville, Louisiana.

This report is one in a series focusing on the human toll of the oil industry's "collateral damage" caused by failure to comply with the Federal Clean Air Act and violations of the New Source Review program. The Bush Administration has proposed as part of its multi-component National Energy Plan a review of a key section of the Clean Air Act New Source Review (NSR) program.

This review is to be completed by August 17th. Residents of refinery communities and public interest organizations are concerned that the review and accompanying talk of "streamlining" the enforcement process is just the first step in an attack on both existing and future clean air enforcement efforts. The NSR program is important to protecting public health because it requires that all major new stationary sources of pollution, including existing plants that expand their operations, comply with strict emission standards. However, the program only works if it is enforced.

For years, refineries and power plants violated New Source Review, making major modifications and increasing their emissions without following the law. Recent EPA studies showed that more than fifty percent of the nation's refineries were violating the Clean Air Act. In June of this year, the Reuters News agency quoted an EPA official as saying that more than 80% of the nation's refineries have violated New Source Review.

Because of the high rate of New Source Review violations, the EPA has, in the last two years, initiated enforcement actions against some of these facilities. These actions have begun to bear fruit - forcing refiners to invest in long-needed pollution controls and giving back to communities with investments in local environmental projects.

The personal accounts told in this report, and others in the series, document the importance of strength-ening enforcement of the law at our nation's refineries, not weakening it. The Bush Administration's effort to rollback New Source Review creates a direct threat to the health of millions of people who live near refineries, our nation's biggest source of toxic pollution. The millions of people who live near refineries in the United States risk becoming part of President George W. Bush's Toxic Legacy unless enforcement is strengthened, not weakened.

This report is produced by the Texas Sustainable Energy and Economic Development (SEED) Coalition in collaboration with local organizations in Texas and Louisiana.

Texas SEED Coalition
611 South Congress, Suite 200, Austin, Texas, 78704
512-479-7744
www.seedcoalition.org
www.refineryreform.org

This report made possible by contributions from Clear the Air and the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. Thanks to groundWork of South Africa for their back cover poster. Thanks to Dr. Neil Carman, Lone Star Sierra Club of Texas for his technical analysis of Texas and Louisiana refineries.

For citations, please see the Houston area report, "More Money Than God" or visit the Texas SEED Coalition on the web at: www.refineryreform.org.

New Sarpy, Louisiana is a small town 25 miles Northeast of New Orleans on the banks of the Mississippi River. New Sarpy is also home to a notorious oil refinery that has gone through many name changes and owners over the years. Originally, the Goodhope refinery was closed because of frequent explosions, fires and toxic spills. Another set of investors came along and bought it up and expanded it, renaming it the Transamerica refinery. The current incarnation, the Orion refinery, is trying to expand production again and has literally reached the front doorsteps of the citizens of New Sarpy. The refinery is under investigation for possible violations of state and federal environmental and safety laws.

"Orion refinery has violated all our rights of having a life with clean air and safety. This plant is approximately 110 feet from my front door."

Major Mackie is resident of New Sarpy. He recently traveled to Washington, DC to tell the EPA and members of Congress about the pollution, health problems and trauma caused by refinery pollution and government inaction. Here is the impassioned plea he made to regulators considering rollbacks of regulation and enforcement against refinery polluters:

"I am here on behalf of the people of New Sarpy, Louisiana and fellow Americans. The refineries in this country have, for a long time, disregarded the value of human life. American lives. Some of which served this country in her fight for life. Many are being quietly poisoned for the sake of money. Many of these problems can be solved with the assistance of Congress through relocation laws and buffer zones. Stop refineries from moving into people's homes at will."

"Many are being quietly poisoned for the sake of money...

Stop refineries from moving into people's homes at will."

Orion refinery has violated all our rights of having a life with clean air and safety. This plant is approximately 110 feet from my front door. The people in my neighborhood are forced to live in fear. We are... living with the ungodly smells and illnesses. I volunteered for military service so that neither I nor my family would not have to live this way.

"Energy demands are high in this country. But the health risk and problems are higher."

In the middle of the night, our kids wake up to rumbling beds and sirens. It's not only a physical problem but a mental one as well. We cannot sit at our own table. We're eating our meals with various odors and God knows what else.

We are tired of [the refinery's] front office deceit. Telling us nothing's wrong. Then we take air samples [with the buckets] and they outrageously exceed standards. The town of New Sarpy, LA has become another Hinkley, CA. I am sure you all have seen Erin Brokovich. The town of Hinkley vs. PG&E.This is what is happening now in my community and others around the country.

"Before you enter someone's home, you are supposed to knock or be invited the American way. There is nothing American about home invasion by these plants."

Orion told us our homes aren't worth anything never once considering our lives. There are three compa-nies: Orion, Shell, and Motiva all point at each other while our health points down. Before you enter someone's home you are supposed to knock or be invited the American way. There is nothing American about plant invasion.

There is value on product, not on human life. Our lives are being compromised for a dollar. Energy demands are high in this country. But the health risks and problems are higher. Where are the wonderful things that built this country? Love, compassion for our fellow man?

America has no future without our children. Seeing and hearing problems, respiratory and many more we have yet to detect. Will industry silently kill them, or will Congress help them live? Your children and mine. I urge you to tackle this growing problem with human life in mind and the dignity of Americans. All mothers love their children."

"America has no future without our children… Will industry silently kill them or will Congress help them live?"