NATIONAL RESPONSE TEAM

Of The National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan

G-OPF 2100 2nd St. S.W., Washington, DC 20593-0001

ICOM Pipeline 

Occurrence Date:

 24 June, 2001

Location:

 Geismer, LA

Source:

 Pipeline

Material:

 Benzene

Severity:

 Major

Quantity Discharged:

 22,000 Gallons

Quantity in Water:

 None

Body of Water Affected:

 N/A

Federal On-Scene Coordinator:

 EPA Region VI
Description:

On June 24, 2001 a spill of 22,000 gallons of benzene from a six inch pipeline was discovered in Geismar, LA. The material leaked out due to another pipeline releasing drops of nitric acid onto the benzene pipeline causing a hole. Only land was affected. The owner of the pipeline is ICOM, a private enterprise out of St. Gabriel, LA. State police, LA Department of Environmental Quality and clean up contractors are on scene. Media interest in the area is high. Clean up operations are ongoing. Unknown environmental impact at this time. CASE CLOSED