Tank leaks lead to chemical releases at BP Whiting Refinery
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The BP Whiting Refinery in northwest Indiana is working to clean up a pair of leaks that led to the release of toxic chemicals. Our partners at The Times of Northwest Indiana report the leaks are being blamed on recent subzero temperatures.
Indiana Department of Environmental Management spokesperson Barry Sneed said the first leak occurred on Jan 18. and caused a spill of dirty gas oil that gave off benzene and hydrogen sulfide vapors, which may have been experienced by area residents.
Sneed said IDEM was notified of the leak the following day.
“As part of the agency’s response, IDEM notified county, state and federal emergency management,” Sneed told The Times. “IDEM assisted facility personnel and their contractor in coordinating containment measures. The spill was localized within a secondary containment area around the tank. No bodies of water have been impacted. Residents in surrounding communities may experience odors while cleanup is taking place.”
The second leak occurred on Tuesday. Sneed said a release of liquefied petroleum gas leaked from a separate tank due to a “localized equipment failure.” That leak also released hydrogen sulfide vapor, and BP noted the unit was removed from service.
BP spokesperson Christina Audisho told The Times that emergency crews immediately began cleanup efforts on both spills and notifications were made to the required local and state regulatory entities.
“We are aware that some in the surrounding communities were experiencing odors while cleanup work at the tank confinement area is taking place,” Audisho said. “Operation crews are working around the clock to rapidly clean up the impacted area and are undertaking additional measures to try to mitigate the odors as they continue cleanup efforts.”
She said the refinery continues to operate normally.