BP: Situation “stabilized” at Whiting Refinery after Sunday chemical leak

“Operations have been stabilized” at the BP Whiting refinery, according to a company spokesperson, after a Sunday gas flare-up at the facility caused a pungent, sulfur-like odor to spread across Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties.

According to a statement from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), the incident was caused by a severe storm that resulted in a partial power outage at the refinery.

“This led to the refinery gas flares being flooded with excess refinery gases, which were released outside of allowable emissions limits,” IDEM spokesman Barry Sneed wrote in the statement. “The excess gas emitted was primarily comprised of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S).”

Both chemicals can have adverse health effects when inhaled in sufficient quantities, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

An IDEM inspector visited the Whiting refinery on Monday to investigate the incident, Sneed wrote.

“Currently, gasses are not being produced or sent to the flares,” he continued. “As part of their permit with IDEM, BP is required to report emissions that deviate from emission standards of the Clean Air Act. IDEM will subsequently review reports and take appropriate action in the case of any violations.”

In her statement, BP spokesperson Christina Audisho wrote that “we continue to monitor the surrounding areas as a precautionary measure.”

“We are working alongside local officials and government agencies, including IDEM and the EPA, as we move through this process,” she added.