On the morning of September 6, 2010, hundreds of people in Chalmette, Louisiana, as well as the communities of Arabi and New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, awoke to find a fine, white powder blanketing houses, lawns, cars and streets. The substance was the result of a power outage at Chalmette Refining LLC that sent more than 2,000 lbs of spent catalyst powder into the air above surrounding communities.

Our Chalmette Refining powder release lawyers believe it is likely that the substance involved in this incident is harmful to both people and property. Our firm is taking action right now to ensure that victims of this incident receive compensation for medical monitoring, medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. While it could be months or even longer before the full health consequences of the Chalmette Refining powder release are known, it is vital that people impacted by this incident take action to protect their legal rights NOW.

Impacts of the Chalmette Refining Powder Release

Already, some residents of Chalmette, Arabi and the Lower Ninth Ward are reporting respiratory problems and eye irritation in the wake of the Chalmette Refining powder release. The powder is being tracked into homes, and has gotten into air conditioning units. Some residents who tried to wash their cars said that the substance won’t come off, even after repeated washings.

The catalyst powder is a byproduct of the refining process. Shortly after the incident, Chalmette Refining officials maintained that the catalyst powder blanketing the surrounding communities wasn’t hazardous. Residents were reassured that they could safely wash the substance from cars, buildings and other surfaces. Many began doing exactly that.

But in contrast to the reassurances from Chalmette Refining, one local TV station reported that the material data sheet for the catalyst powder says it can be an irritant to the eyes and skin if inhaled or ingested. The data sheet cautions people to wear rubber gloves when handling the powder, and to decontaminate clothes and shoes, or even dispose of them all together.

Past Incidents

According to a report on Fox8Live.com, people who live near Chalmette Refining say this isn’t the first time they’ve walked outside to find their homes and cars covered in this powdery substance.

“It happens often, and to tell you the truth, if ain’t black, it’s brown. Every time, it’s a different color,” said lifelong Chalmette resident Every Deroche. Deroche said the problems have gotten worse over the past few years.

In January 2007, 400 to 500 fourth- and fifth-graders were exposed to a release of petroleum coke dust while on a field trip to the Chalmette Battlefield. The students from Alice Harte Charter Elementary School in Algiers were at the battlefield to watch a re-enactment of the Battle of New Orleans. Around the same time, the petroleum dust was released from Chalmette Refining. Two children were hospitalized during the incident.

A 2006 study by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality revealed that the refinery averaged approximately six accidents a month for the 13 month period from August 2005 to August 2006. In the 13 month period reviewed by the study, the refinery had 78 accidents. The chemicals released include benzene, which causes cancer, and sulfur dioxide, which triggers asthma attacks.

In a case first filed in February of 2004, Chalmette Refining was found guilty of 2,665 violations of the Clean Air Act. After the lawsuit was filed, the federal and state governments negotiated with Exxon Mobile, which owns Chalmette Refining jointly with Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA, to reduce these violations, creating consent decrees with schedules and dates for clean up.

Legal Helps for Victims of the Chalmette Refining Powder Release

Our Chalmette Refining powder release lawyers are currently investigating this incident. If your property was damaged as a result of the catalyst powder release, or you or a loved one are suffering from health problems you believe could be the result of the Chalmette Refining catalyst powder release, we want to hear from you today. We urge you to fill out our online form, or call 1 800 LAW INFO (1-800-529-4636) to discuss your case with one of our Chalmette Refining powder release lawyers as soon as possible.