'Technical issue' at Irving Oil refinery blankets Saint John neighborhoods in dust

CBC News ^ | Nov 15, 2017 11:21 AM | By Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon

[jerod]

Irving Oil Ltd. has distributed apology letters and gift cards to some east Saint John residents after a "technical issue" at the refinery on Sunday left their neighbourhoods blanketed in white dust.

"We experienced a technical issue during the start-up of our fluidized catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) from the maintenance turnaround," the letter Red Head residents received in their mailboxes reads.

"As a result, we had an impact to some areas in the neighbouring communities with the distribution of fine particulate. We sincerely apologize."

The letter, dated Nov. 14, does not indicate how much material was released or how far it spread.

The company has "made adjustments" to the FCCU to "minimize further impact on our neighbours," according to the letter, signed by community relations specialist Rebecca Belliveau.

"We appreciate your patience while we complete this work, and ask that you contact us if you would like additional information or have any concerns."

Irving Oil officials could not immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday.

This isn't the first time Irving Oil has apologized to area residents for the release of particulate.

In August 2010, residents in the Champlain Heights, Silver Falls, and Loch Lomond awoke three times to find their homes and vehicles covered in a grey, gritty dust.

The first reported release on Aug. 19 was caused by an interrupted start up of a processing unit, officials said at the time.

The residue, described as a non-hazardous catalyst made from clay and silica compounds, spread over a five-kilometre radius around the refinery.

[jerod]

These are the same Irving's who's train full of oil cars derailed in Lac-Mégantic Quebec.. Killing 47 people. They also happen to support carbon taxes and have supported liberal causes and governments for many years... Nothing to see here, move along.

The propaganda arm of the federal government (the CBC) will usually report a story of this sort and then you'll never hear another thing about it.

[ClearCase_guy]

They should contact Union Carbide and ask for advice on how not to release chemicals on unsuspecting neighbors.

[littleharbour]

Irving is actually getting nervous about the carbon tax, because they know that the US (which comprises 80% of their market) is not going to follow suit. They would actually have benefitted if Clinton had been elected and imposed a carbon tax but they now realize that President Trump is not going to shackle American business with this stupidity.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/irving-oil-carbon-plan-1.4370775

[Christopher]

About 5 or 6 years ago, working as an off-shift maintenance mechanic, I was single-handedly responsible for covering an entire neighborhood in a fine patina of corn starch.

The shift coordinator assuaged my guilty conscience by informing me that that plant sends yearly care packages to the neighboring communities in compensation of just such occurrences.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The Chicago area Clark Refinery was guilty of this every few weeks, when the place wasn’t on fire...
It’s shut down now.