A new report from local environmental group Louisiana Bucket Brigade has called out the state's oil refinery operators for poor accident records.
The new report, entitled "Common Ground III: Why cooperation to reduce accidents at Lousiana refineries is needed now," tracked emissions reports from the states numerous oil refining plants.
The group looked at excess emissions and their stated causes, including fires and flares caused by tests and repairs to malfunctions and power outages. Over the course of 2010, the report found Louisiana oil refineries averaged nearly daily accidents, with 354 incidents over the course of the year, resulting in nearly 490 tons of gas emissions.
"These ongoing, seemingly small problems are warning signs that should alert refinery managers to enact comprehensive solutions," the report says, according to Reuters.
With 18 percent of U.S. oil refining capacity, the Bucket Brigade argues even small problems could lead to major disasters, insisting that the refining plants must hire more union workers to better maintain their facilities, while the Environmental Protection Agency should step up reviews and enforcement.
However, Reuters reports oil companies have argued with both the reports accuracy and its conclusions, with Exxon Mobil contesting the figures for its refineries and Citgo noting its plant reported no such incidents.
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