Hovensa oil refinery has set up two new water distribution sites for residents along a five mile stretch of St. Croix where residents have been advised not to use water from their cisterns after oil droplets were carried downwind from a flare Thursday, according to the refinery.
They are at Saint Croix Fuel Services, southwest of the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport at 54C Estate Betty’s Hope, and at the St. Croix Animal Welfare Center at No. 32 Estate Clifton Hill. This is in addition to several other sites set up in the wake of another oil spray incident Sept. 19, when a line burst on a desulfurizing unit at the refinery, spraying oil that hit roofs in surrounding neighborhoods. Those previously established sites are at: Youths with a Mission, in Estate Diamond Ruby and Church of Christ, in Estate Strawberry Hill.
Water will be available at these locations from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily, according to Hovensa.
The most recent aerial oil release happened in connection to a large oil flare Thursday morning.
When a processing unit at the refinery developed problems, Hovensa diverted heavy oil to a ground flare, which burned the oil, producing a massive opaque black cloud. According to the refinery, its air quality tests found no "substance" in the air "at a level exceeding the standard established by the U.S. Environmental Association."
Some of the heavy oil also flowed into a low-pressure elevated flare, where it sprayed out and was carried downwind over Henry E. Rohlsen Airport; eEtates Clifton Hill, Profit and Enfield Green, according to a statement from the refinery.
Hovensa has deployed teams to assess areas as far west as Williams Delight to see if they were affected by the oil. Its teams have found no evidence of oil in the Paradise, St. Croix Central High School and Williams Delight areas, according to Hovensa. Assessments continue in Clifton Hill, Profit, Enfield Green and adjacent areas. The refinery is asking residents who see oil spots in their area to call the Hovensa call center at 692-3999.
