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Abstract
ABSTRACT Floodwater associated with the Hurricane Katrina'S storm surge (August 29, 2005) displaced and damaged a 250,000 barrel above ground storage tank at Murphy Oil Corporation'S Meraux Refinery in Chalmette, Louisiana. Crude oil was released and was dispersed into the nearby and evacuated residential and commercial area by the retreating floodwaters. The assessment, which began September 18, involved biased sampling and “chemical fingerprinting” of interior and exterior wipe samples (from the visually-evident “bathtub rings” on structures) and interior and exterior sediments from over 6000 homes, businesses, churches, and schools. Crude oil from the failed tank was thoroughly characterized using chemical fingerprinting. Over 14,000 Tier 1 (GC/FID) chromatographic (EPA Method 8015B) analyses were conducted as a means of mapping the overall lateral extent, concentration, and continuity of the crude oil impact. These Tier 1 GC/FID analyses revealed the extent of crude oil contamination in the area, as well as the widespread occurrence of (1) non-crude oil, petroleum-derived contamination (e.g., engine lube oils, hydraulic oils, diesel fuel, household lubricants) and (2) allochthonous natural organic matter (e.g., peat and plant materials) from surrounding marshes that was carried and dispersed by the floodwater. Tier 2 fingerprinting involving quantitative petroleum biomarker data generated using GC/MS-SIM (modified EPA Method 8270) was conducted on a selected subset of samples. When the biomarker-based diagnostic ratios were evaluated statistically, the presence/absence of the crude oil, even at concentrations below residential standards, was established. This information was used to develop and govern a settlement and remedial program with the affected property owners, and to defend against claims brought by unaffected parties.
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