HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT REPORT
Louisiana State Police
Emergency Services Unit
Incident#: 15- 03669
Investigation Status: Initial
Investigator: Steven Long
Region: I
Troop: A
Parish: Ascension
Location: 36187 Hwy 30
Complainant: Joey Brumfield
Primary #: 225-744-1314
Secondary #:
Date / Time Occurred: 09/04/2015 at 0000 hrs.
Date / Time Hotline Notified: 09/04/2015 at 1215 hrs.
Date / Time Investigator Notified: 9/04/2015 at 1225 hrs.
Date / Time Investigator 10-97: 09/04/2015 at 0134 hrs.
Incident Type: Fixed-Site
Digital Photographs: Yes
Video: No
FACILITY:
Name: REG (Renewable Energy Group) Geismar, LLC.
Address: 36187 Hwy 30
Representative: Peter Guay
Title: Plant Manager
N/A:
Name:
Address:
Representative:
City: Geismar
State: LA
ZIP: 70734
Primary #: 225-744-1314
Secondary #: 225-715-2358
City:
Title:
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Name:
Address:
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Home Address:
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Primary #:
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CHEMICAL NAME / ID #:
Hydrogen / 1049
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Hazard Class:
2 - Gases
N/A
N/A
N/A
State:
Capacity:
Amt.: Unk N/A
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Released:
Est.: Unk N/A
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CONTAINER TYPE: N/A
Select
UNDERGROUND UTILITY: N/A
Responsible Party Class: Select
Representative:
Address:
D.L. #:
State:
Class:
Dig Ticket #:
DOB: / /
Ticket Status: Select
Name of Responsible Party:
Title:
City:
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Markings Visible: Select
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Rev. 01-24-12
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT REPORT
Louisiana State Police
Emergency Services Unit
ADDITIONAL AGENCIES ON-SCENE: N/A
Local
Agency Name: Ascension Sheriff's Office
Local
Agency Name: Ascension OEP
Select
Agency Name:
Select
Agency Name:
INJURIES:
Yes
Total #: 4
No
Representative Name: Cody Melancon
Representative Name: Rick Webre
Representative Name:
Representative Name:
FATALITIES:
Total #: N/A
FIRE:
Yes
ROADWAY CLOSURE: N/A
Roadway #:
Roadway #:
Date / Time Closed:
Date / Time Closed:
EVACUATIONS: N/A
Number of Persons Affected:
Date / Time Ordered:
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hrs.
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hrs.
SHELTER IN PLACE: N/A
Number of Persons Affected:
Date / Time Ordered:
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hrs.
Date / Time Lifted:
at
hrs.
WEATHER CONDITIONS:
Precipitation: Select
Temperature:
REMEDIATION / MUTUAL AID: N/A
Company/Agency:
Company/Agency:
Company/Agency:
Company/Agency:
Company/Agency:
NO.
1.
VIOLATION
F
at
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Wind Direction: Select
Representative:
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DESCRIPTION OF VIOLATION
RS 30:2373 D.1 Careless Handling of a Hazardous Material
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ATTACHMENTS:
MSDS
LEPC Notification Information
Employee Interviews
Video
Other:
hrs.
hrs.
Shipping Papers
Facility Investigation Documents
Facility Monitoring Data
MCSAP Report No.:
Date / Time Opened:
Date / Time Opened:
Wind Speed:
mph
Primary #:
Primary #:
Primary #:
Primary #:
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hrs.
hrs.
Humidity:
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%
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RESPONSIBLE PARTY
REG Geismar, LLC
Notification Procedures
Facility Drawings or Blueprints
Digital Photographs
Traffic Crash Report No.:
Rev. 01-24-12
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT REPORT
Louisiana State Police
Emergency Services Unit
DETAILS:
On September 4, 2015 at 0030 hrs I was notified by the Hotline of an incident in Ascension Parish involving a fire with
injuries in the REG (Renewable Energy Group) Geismar, LLC.
On September 4, 2015 at 0050 I spoke with Captain Melancon of Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office who informed me
there was a fire in the plant with four people injured. The cause of the fire was unknown but the fire was still burning.
On September 4, 2015 at 0134 hrs I arrived at the REG Geismar, LLC, and met Mr. Guay the REG Plant Manager. At
0134 hrs Technician Supervisor Travis Day arrived on scene. Mr. Guay confirmed the information relayed by Captain
Melancon. Mr. Guay explained the entire unit process was being diverted to the flair in order to reduce the pressure on
the unit and diminish the fire. I observed the flair was very active and had a large flame. Mr. Guay said they had three
fire monitors on the unit to cool and contain the fire. REG contracted IES to assist with fire support for the duration of
the incident. Mr. Guay explained they did not know what line was involved with the fire and that is why they were not
able to isolate the line. It was estimated to have approximately 20 pounds of pressure on the unit and there were three
visible flames in different areas of the unit.
At 0208 it was believed the fire was out but after inspection there were still three small fires in the unit. The pressure
was believed to be down to less than three pounds. The fire monitors continued to cool the unit and contain the fires. At
0445 hrs the fires were extinguished.
Mr. Guay explained the four people injured were three Excel contract employees and one REG employee. The injured
personnel were replacing valve gaskets on several valves in the unit. Mr. Guay said all safety protocols were followed
and the cause of the incident was unknown. Mr. Guay continued to explain the lines had been pressure tested with a
diesel and water mixture and he believed they had been flushed prior to any work or repairs.
All REG and Excel employees involved in the repair, which were interviewed, stated all safety protocols were followed.
The line being worked on was locked out and tagged out prior to any work beginning. Troy Spedale and Cody Overland,
stated there was a moment when Excel employee Mason Spratt removed a valve bonnet and it appeared there was still
pressure on the line and they all stopped work while the REG operators checked the lines again. In an effort to insure
the lines were safe the REG operators removed all the valve bonnets prior to the gaskets being replaced. With the valve
bonnets removed the line was essentially open to the atmosphere. After the operators removed the valve bonnets the
Excel personnel once again began replacing the valve gaskets. Shortly after they resumed work a fire ignited and
injured four of the workers making the repairs. The fire was a hydrogen fire and described as a fire under pressure.
During an interview with Jordy Gautreau, an REG employee, it was revealed by Scott Delacroix, the REG lawyer, the
likely cause of the incident was due to a valve (5208) being left open. The valve left open was a mechanical operated
valve and did not have an indicator to whether it was open or closed.
RS 30:2373 D.1 Careless Handling of a Hazardous Material
D.(1) Any person who handles, stores, or otherwise maintains a hazardous material regulated by this Chapter in a
wanton and reckless manner without regard for the hazards of the material or of the circumstances of such use, storage,
or handling shall be guilty of careless handling.
Rev. 01-24-12
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT REPORT
Louisiana State Police
Emergency Services Unit
Trooper Findings
My investigation is based upon my observations and findings while on scene, conversations with incident responders,
Excel employees and REG employees. I confirmed the cause of the fire was valve 5208 being open. The valve was a
mechanical valve with no indicator if it were open or closed. Using this valve as a lock out point failed to use the proper
amount of caution needed for the scheduled repairs. There was no way to know if the valve was closed or open when it
was locked out. The recommended procedure to safely lock out the line would have been to double block and bleed the
line at two valves closer to the tank that contained Hydrogen and Diesel with approximately 18000 pounds of pressure.
Valve 5208 did not remain closed and allowed Hydrogen to escape from the line until it found an ignition source. The
choice to lock out on a mechanical valve without knowing if it was closed did not display the proper amount of caution
needed when handling a hazardous material. Based on these findings I am citing REG Geismar, LLC for the violation of
RS 30:2373 D.1 (Careless Handling of a Hazardous Material).
Attachments:
LSP/DEQ Incident Report 15-03669
Witness Statements
Rev. 01-24-12