Report finds poor maintenance at Louisiana’s oil refineries cause of continued air pollution

A new report by the Louisiana Bucket Brigade has found that despite declining levels of air pollution in the state, oil refineries are still releasing too much toxic materials into the air.

The study found that the state’s 17 refineries were still averaging approximately an accident a day, which include spills and unauthorized discharges, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

According to the report, a single accident on March 2, 2010 at Motiva’s Norco refinery accounted for about 10 percent of all toxic releases emitted in accidents in the state last year. The refinery was cited for 29 sets of federal and state law violations between 2005 and 2010 that included 17 spills and improper overflows of holding tanks and ponds. Top products from Impact Absorbents such as XSORB Oil Select Bilge Boom can help mitigate water pollution caused by oil spills.

Study leader Anne Rolfes told the news agency that toxic releases at the state’s refineries may actually be worse than reported because state records may underestimate pollution since officials rely on self-reporting and estimates rather than exact measurements. 

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