May 28, 2009

Gov. Markell Honors First Responders to Fire at Sunoco Refinery, Tours Facility with Sunoco Executives to Review Preventive Measures

CLAYMONT – Gov. Jack Markell met Thursday with representatives of various emergency response organizations that responded to the May 17 explosion and fire at a unit of the Sunoco refinery located in Claymont and later met with senior Sunoco officials to assess the impacts of the incident and review operations of the facility.

Governor Markell was joined by Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Secretary Collin P. O’Mara in paying tribute to members of the Claymont Volunteer Fire Company, the New Castle County Department of Public Safety, members of  DNREC’s environmental response team, the Division of Public Health and other emergency personnel.

“We know that when called to service, you answer each time. We honor you for that,” Markell said to the first responders. “But equally important are our collaborative efforts with Delaware facilities to continue to pursue all preventive measures to reduce emergency incidents and reassure our citizens that their safety is our number one concern.”

Personnel from 12 organizations in Delaware provided support in managing the incident or responded to the scene. Those included: Brandywine Hundred Fire Company, Talleyville Fire Company, Holloway Terrace Fire Company, Delaware State Fire Police, Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office and Delaware State Police. Providing back up to the responding fire companies were Elsmere Fire Company, Five Points Fire Company and Belvedere Fire Company.

Markell also met with Vince Kelley, senior vice-president of Sunoco Refining  to discuss the incident. Experts are still investigating the explosion and fire to determine the cause. The company has 30 days under state requirements to submit its preliminary findings in an incident report.

The ethylene plant at Sunoco where the fire is believed to have begun, has been in the state’s Accidental Release Prevention Program in DNREC since the program was initiated in 1989 and the refinery flare operating and visible for miles during the incident is regulated by DNREC. Delaware was the first state to regulate flammables and explosives in addition to toxics.

“Delaware’s Accidental Release Prevention Program was one of the first of its kind established in the nation and became a model for EPA, said DNREC Secretary O’Mara. “One of the attributes of the program is that it makes important information about facilities available to emergency planners and first responders. Our team will review Sunoco’s findings and determine what, if any, operational improvements should be made at the facility.”

The fire that began following an explosion at approximately 10 p.m. Sunday evening, May 10 at the Marcus Hook refinery occurred in the ethylene production area. The fire was in the jurisdiction of the Claymont Fire Company and the incident management was conducted by Claymont Fire Chief, Sunoco’s Fire Brigade Chief and Marcus Hook-Trainer Fire Chief.

DNREC’s Emergency Response Team joined other responders to assess the potential for harmful emissions and oversaw air monitoring overnight.  Delaware’s Division of Public Health performed air monitoring for health effects during the day Monday, May 11. DNREC will conduct a follow-up investigation following a review of the detailed incident report from Sunoco.