Vendredi

By E.J. Ruane 

Buckets of rain, if not buckets of tears are expected to pour on Baton Rouge tonight. Between 6 and 9pm, the Louisiana Bucket Brigade (LABB) will join forces with the Pray for Our Air program to deliver 5,000 Letters of Concern to ExxonMobile manager, Steven Blume.  The Environmental Protection Agency will host the "Environmental Justice Meeting" so Baton Rouge residents may address June's Benzene leak.

Anna Hrybyk, representative for the LABB, spoke with NoDef and hopes the meeting will be "an ample opportunity for community members to air their concerns". 

On Thursday, June 14th, ExxonMobile Chemical Plant in Baton Rouge responded to a tank leaking the material, naphtha.  Naphtha contains the harmful gas, Benzene and the plant reported 10 pounds of Benzene were emitted.  Estimates for the overall size of the leak were made at 1,364 pounds.  ExxonMobile refinery contacted authorities (Louisiana State Police) and notified government agencies. Four days after the initial leak, the ExxonMobile Plant classified the leak as a level two incident classification--significant response to the facility needed.  

Through the diligent tracking and persistent requests made by the Loiusiana Bucket Brigade,  ExxonMobile revised their initial estimate of the leak to 28,688 pounds. After the incident, a number of Baton Rouge residents reported illness; the June 14th accident caused the LABB and Pray for Our Air to present requests for the ExxonMobile facility tonight.

According to the LABB, (who conducts tests and tracks the facility's safety online at Refinery Accident Database) in the last eight years, the 2,400 acre complex sustained 993 accidents.  Hrybyk shared, "The Bucket Brigade holds the refinery accountable--its why we work in the neighborhoods most effected by the plant. We want to make sure promises are met and kept". 

In response to the recent Benzene Air leak, the LABB drafted proposals to ensure the safety of Baton Rouge citizens and considerations for environmental protection. The EPA and LA Bucket Brigade recognized the need to upgrade facility equipment, provide timely and proper shutdown of facilities in the event of a hurricane.   Also, the organizations advised the need for an emergency, evacuation route in the event of a hurricane for residents within a two mile radius of the plant. "The refinery profits 4 million dollars a day, it's the second largest refinery in the country" says Hrybyk, "the LABB wants ExxonMobile to reinvest in the facility and largely, the community's safety. The EPA needs to take on their regulatory role".

Tonight's meeting in Baton Rouge will focus on community concerns.

But, will the letters reach their addressee in a dramatic Miracle on 34th Street scene?

 Anna told the Defender, "It's possible Steven Blume may be there", but mostly, "The LABB wants to make sure every one from the closest communities are heard. If there is time, we will read some of the letters--but we want to put them in the hands of Blume".