PORT ARTHUR, TX: Massive Shell refinery upset sends flares and black smoke to neighborhoods

NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
April 15, 2003

Contact:
Denny Larson, Refinery Reform Campaign: 800-670-3841

Yesterday Shell-Motiva lost power and had no back up power (a major lapse of common safety!) Because they supply power to the adjoining Huntsman chemical plant, Huntsman flared all their product as well - again no back up. This is not the first time. Shell has flagrantly ignored their own safety protocols by failing to have adequate back up systems, even though they have lost power before. It is obvious that they consider the people of the Westside of Port Arthur "expendable".

Shame on Shell!

From Hilton Kelley, Port Arthur, Texas:

Here are some pictures of yesterdays upset at Motiva and Huntsman due to power failure. The nearby El Vista community was totally covered with Toxic smoke there was a strong chemical odor all through the community.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) staff showed up but had no air monitoring equipment with them, so I went and got my bucket and took a sample.

I talked with a TCEQ representative and asked him would they consider evacuation and he said he didn't know he was only there to monitor the situation and that it was up to the city to make that decision but I was also informed that there is no evacuation plan in such emergencies.

CIDA went door to door telling people what was happening and that they should decide for themselves whether to evacuate, since no company or agency was doing anything to inform them.

Hilton Kelley (C.I.D.A.)
409-498-1088

PS: we have faxed the following letter to Motiva:
Letter to Motiva Mangers, Port Arthur, Texas