blowing smoke (conoco)

[cj hall]

Hello to All

I know that this might make some of you very mad but look I live here and if Conoco gets away with this then all my thoughts are right about them and the govt. THIS IS THE BILLINGS REFINERY THE ONE THAT JUST GOT THE ENERGY STAR AWARD FROM THE EPA.



This is a picture of the refinery on 4/28/07 this is not steam I know what steam looks like don't even go there. This is smoke what kind well you tell me.

I first saw it on friday and today its the same thing. no news reports no word from the refinery nothing!!! just live with it I guess.



Well sorry I not doing that.

I placed a call to the EPA in Denver and was told to call the office in Helena and I did they should be calling me back soon I hope.



the wind has been blowing to the west today so the smell is not around my house but last night it filled the valley with the smoke. that can't be good.



I will take some more pictures tonight and more in the comming days I sure hope it not to toxic.

 

[tolmsted]

Can't say just what that is but I know just where that is located on the north side of the Denver metro area. Yah, that smell can gag a horse some times.
Tom

 

[cj hall]

what?

hello to all



I got a call today from the EPA in Helena, Mt



The person told me that the smoke / steam (this is when I told her its not steam) is a craking catalyst dust from the cat craker



I asked her if it was ok to be exposed to it and she told me that she would not want to be under it if it comming out of the stack.

She told me that the EPA and Conoco are aware of the problem and that the reason this is happing is that Conoco is trying to get the unit up and running and this is some thing new they are trying to clean up the air comming out of the refinery.



So this stuff is not good to be around there aware of the problem and this is all for the good of the country.



anyone that has to live down wind of this is in danger but its ok it's for the good of all the people, just not the ones living here!!!!!!!!



THE BILLINGS GAZETTE TODAY SAID THAT ITS DUST AND ITS OK NOT TO WORRY.

do you see why I get so mad!!!!!!!!!!!



OH BUY THE WAY IT IS ON GOING TODAY IS DAY 5



cj hall

 

[Msilbernagel]

cj,

I'd find out the chemical composition of the catalyst and see what the effects are likely to be. Often, catalysts contain rare metals better kept outside of the body. Since it's coming out in the form of fine dust, finding a resting place in the lungs isn't likely a good thing either.

Any way to get that information?

Sometimes, just getting the data out into the light is sufficient to bring behavior into line...

I'm a little sensitive to this type of thing too - my family (parents, grandparents, uncle, aunt) all lived in the Yakima area and were subjected to the releases of radioactive iodine by the fine folks at Hanford in the mid 40's. Make sure these folks do the right thing!

Mark

 

[cj hall]

epa

hello mark



the person at the epa did not know what catalyst they are using

but she said they are ok with them blowing it all over the place i just dont get it.



i cant think it a good idea to do that, any one out there think it is?

 

[cj hall]

more smoke ?

Hello All



I thought you would like to see the story for yourself

heres the link.





http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/05/01/news/local/50-smoke.tx



someday the truth will come out.

 

[PKozlowski]

Do you think the EPA or Conoco could careless about you?

I don't. $$ that is all that is important.

 

[cj hall]

not the greatest news

hello all



yes its better but you can see it today



heres the lastest on the B. S. from Conoco.



http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/05/02/news/local/35-deq.txt



the story sure changes fast when people act.

 

[cj hall]

hello to all



I talked to JIm Hughes of the Billings Offfice Dept of Enviornmental Quality yesterday about the Conoco issue.



They (conoco) will be fined for this output the Montana DEQ is looking at what they put in to the air and how much of it. Mr. Hughes is thinking they lost all of the catalyst in that unit also he thinking its alumnia silica base with the rare metals added after the unit is up and running.

his feelings about this is they started bringing the plant back up either late friday night or on sat knowing that the DEQ people don't work on the weekends so no one is around to complain to. also he thinks the refinery should have tryed to get it up and running but when after it did not start right then shut it down rightaway and fix the problem. not what they did.



Conoco WILL NOT release the amount they lost tell next week or tell the DEQ what they lost.

he will be getting back to me after he finds out more of what happened



I am sure people DO not like the fact that there fuel prices will be going up because of this mess they have made but remember they posted a profit of 3. 5 billion for the first three months of this year they did this and they need to pay to clean it up. IF YOU DONT LIKE THE COMPANY DO NOT BUY THE PRODUCT. there are other companys to buy fuel from.



cj hall

 

[Msilbernagel]

cj,

I'd generally be more concerned with the rare metals, particularly heavy metals, but even the silica compounds can leave you with lung problems:

http://www.answers.com/topic/silicosis

Make a good article if you can find a local media outlet with the guts to publish the article.

Mark

 

[tgordon]

Ok, so the DEQ is getting their money, and the fine will be fought and probably decreased, but when wiil those exposed and suffering the future problems be compensated for their pain, suffering and medical bills? We are not talking about miners whom take a job and get compensated knowing the risks. We are talking about people with no connection to them what so ever being exposed.



And don't tell me nothing gets covered up, just read the book A Bitter Harvest.