Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 Inspector (1) and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) Inspectors (3) arrived at the facility on May 1, 2018, for an announced inspection. On April 19, 2018, the facility received an announcement email, which outlined the directions for conducting an on-site inspection, as well as a list of documents to gather for review during the inspection. Inspectors met with several representatives from the facility during the inspection. This was an inspection to conduct a partial compliance evaluation of the facility’s Risk Management Program pursuant to 40 C.F.R. Part 68 – Chemical Accident Prevent Provisions of the Clean Air Act (CAA) 112(r)(7) and the General Duty Clause of the CAA 112(r)(1). All inspectors attended a facility safety briefing prior to the entrance conference. The union chairman attended the entrance conference and he was informed they could participate in the inspection.
FACILITY DESCRIPTION
The facility is a manufacturing facility that manufactures caustic soda, chlorine, and various chlorinated organic chemicals. The RMP submitted May 4, 2018, states that it employs 500 full-time employees on site. It has the following RMP-regulated toxic and flammable substances in quantities above the threshold: chlorine, chloroform, methyl chloride, and vinyl chloride.
OBSERVATIONS