Louisiana Parish Covered in Toxic White Catalyst Powder From Refinery Shutdown

Residents in the Chalmette and Arabi areas of St. Bernard Parish woke up Monday morning to find a powdery substance on their cars and homes.

A power outage at the Chalmette Refining LLC resulted in several units of the refinery being shut down and during that time, approximately 2,000 pounds of 'spent catalyst' was released into the area.

Karen Bazile, a spokesperson for St. Bernard Parish, said the refinery issued a news release that said the substance is not harmful, but is a nuisance.

According to the parish, a toll-free claims number has been set up by Chalmette Refining, for residents looking for information or concerned about the chemical release. The number is 1-877-657-2833 1-877-657-2833.

St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro, Jr. said residents can clean their homes or cars of the substance, as it is not harmful but said citizens should photograph the presence on their property before cleaning, according to Bazile.

St. Bernard Fire Chief Thomas Stone said many in the area will find their neighborhoods look like a sand storm blew a sandy, powdery substance on everything including vehicles and structures. The Fire Department is in the process of trying to map the area that is affected, and Chalmette Refining is preparing to release a toll free number for residents to call to get information and assistance, Stone said.

People living in the area were not amused.

"It's all in my air condition, in my eyes," complained Myron Kennedy. "You walk in your house and it's all over your shoes."

"They vehicles, as they pass, they blow it up," noted Obbie Carlisle. "You go in your house and it's like you have baby powder on your feet."

The State Police's HazMat Division and the Department of Environmental Quality have been alerted, according to Bazile.

Chief Stone said that it appeared there was still a haze in the air as of 11 a.m.

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[mawacal]

life in chalmette. welcome newcomers

[regidaws]

Doesn't the MSDS say exactly what is in this catalyst, besides clay? A refinery that insists on hiding the identity does NOT make me feel more comfortable! Searching Google for "spent catalyst refinery" finds several possible ingredients, including Vanadium and Molybdenum.

I think Material Safety Data Sheets sometimes tend to exaggerate dangers... but the secrecy the industry and news media are enforcing is very worrisome to me... a retired chemist.

[Theocratos]

It's just a shitty minor provocation aimed to install some fear and alarm in the public. We all can remember this same shittie play with white powders shortly after 9-11. These people behind this have no creative imagination at all.

[OzzyPatriot]

Lemme tell ya as an industrial spray painter.

If this shit ISN'T very very bad for you , as a byproduct of an industrial process. You should go out and by a lottery ticket if you breathed it. Because the odds of you winning and the odds that it wont be harmfully to you are about the same.

[rushfan9thcmd]

every damn blade of grass is covered........

[odin422]

shell this time eh??? New Orleans keeps gettin fucked.