Document rxoQG0MB91KXo0Z2xp07NnBBe

TO: Fred Thomas \ V-*-' U i Interoffice Communication FROM: DATE: SUBJ: T. G. Grumbles May 29, 1986 POTENTIAL REGULATORY VISTAACTION: DRIVERQUALIFICATIONS Enclosed is an article describing recommendations being made for legislation regarding training requirements for hazardous materials drivers, and two proposed regulations for driver certification requirements. The proposed regulations deal with drug use, training, and qualification requirements, for drivers of hazardous materials. If S&T wishes to comment on the proposed regulations,! can help coordinate that effort. Thomas G. Grumbles ajo/9 Enclosure cc G. G. Draper J. R. Drumwright P. T. Hitchcock VVV 000017040 Vista Chemicol Company 15990 N. Barker's Landing Rd. Post Office Box 19029 Houston,Texas 77224 Phone (713) 531*3200 May 29, 1986 Mr. B. I. Raffle Supervising Counsel Environmental & Engineering Group Conoco Legal Department P.0. Box 2197 Houston, TX 77252 Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested VISIA Mr. H. J. Neeld Director, Environmental Programs Environmental Conservation Conoco Inc. P.0. Box 2197 Houston, TX 77252 Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested RE: U.S. v. Conoco (Case #EC-84-37-NB-D) Gentlemen: Pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of July 20, 1984, among E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company, Conoco Inc., and Vista Chemical Company, and the Consent Decree entered in the above action, we hereby provide notice of recently-discovered information which may lead to the filing of an Environmental Claim. On May 28, 1986, the Vista Aberdeen PVC plant experienced a superfund reportable release which resulted in VC emissions. A transcript of the report to the National Response Center is enclosed. Please contact me if you have any questions regarding this matter. Sincerely, Thomas G. Grumbles, C.I.H. Environmental Quality Manager ajo/9 Enclosure cc W. L. McClain John Friend Ralph Ferrell 000017041 VVV To: File (x) Communication Subject: V. E. Mesaick May 291 19R6 Superfund Reporting VIST) At 3:21 P.M. on May 28, 1986, I called the National Response Center (1-800-424-8802) to report a vinyl chloride release to the atmo sphere. Petty Officer Wallace accepted the report. After giving him Information on the location of the plant, I told him that at approximately 2:30 P.M., May 28* 1986, an operator was charging an Ingredient into a PVC polymerization reactor. A vent valve on a charge pot was open, but should have been closed. The vent valve was also apparently plugged. The charge pot was pressurized with water to flush the ingredient into the reactor. When the valve to the reactor was opened, the pluggage in the open vent valve broke loose, allowing material from the reactor to back down Che line and out Che opArt Vent valve. After 15-26 seconds, the open vent valve was closed, stopping flow of the material out of the reactor. Petty Officer Wallace asked how much was released. I told him that no calculations had been performed, but at this point we estimate 5-10 pounds of VCM escaped. He asked if any other agencies had been notified. I told him that we would notify the Mississippi State Bureau of Pollution Control and include a report In our NESHAP VCM semi-annual report. At 3:29 P.M. on May 28, 1986, I called Jerry Banks with the Mississippi Bureau of Pollution Control to inform him of the incident. Jerry Banks was out of the office and Wayne Anderson accepted the call. 1 related the details of the incident to him. He asked where in the plant the release occurred. X told him that it occurred in the new reactor module at reactor D-745. He said he would tell Jerry Banks about it and if Jerry had any questions, he would call me. Veldon E. Messlck CHTFF PftrV?FS ENGINEER /beb cc: JF, JWW, DWH, RAF, JCL, WLM Pile C 8.4.0 VVv OOOOl7042 2 `d OS:\\ S8/63XS0 \ disin Naaaaaay uoaa