Sinclair TRYING to declare themselves a public nuiscance?

[Wrinkle]

Once again, Sinclair is found not just to have violations of OSHA regulations, it's the same ones first discovered in 1995! Seems they never bothered to make the required changes.

With their efforts over the last couple of years, they were also fined $5M for illegal dumping into the river, which was also masked by temporary adjustments when inspectors were on scene.

What a wonderful example of a neighborly enterprize, holding up their end of making this a community we can all enjoy.

What's it take to nominate them for Public Nuiscance of the Year?

Better than that, perhaps a little code enforcement of our own would provide incintive for them to comply, or be run out. Or, was that their intention? Seems they're trying as hard as they know how.

[tim huntzinger]

Why, you must be mentally ill and unmedicated!  How long have been such a tin-foil hatter? I mean, you are saying that Sinclair purposefully committed fraud?  That is impossible!  IMPOSSIBLE!  Have you not heard that you are to believe everything you hear all the time from auth-or-it-tay. What is the incentive? Do you mean to imply there is a conspiracy to pollute and cover up some kind of environmental crime?  And no sources? Why you must lack any and all credibility! You must be some kind of lunatic!  Happy full moon (bat!) Ha ha!

[cannon_fodder]

Not defending the company, but you are a bit off base Wrinkle.  The 1995 thing was entirely different and this isn't really a nuisance issue - it's a workplace  safety issue.  Prior violations were EPA, now we are on to OSHA.  For better or worse. . .

/no specific information

[waterboy]

I would like to know more about the story. It seems to me that polluting and OSHA infractions are two different animals. OSHA is more workplace related rather than public safety. The polluting infraction was dealt with, corrected and punished. OSHA is like the TPD. You can always be ticketed for something, anytime, anywhere.

On a related note, who does one contact to report suspected illegal polluting of a waterway? I know of one area that has always intrigued me. Something is happening there and some effort at hiding it has been made, but I don't know if it is legit or not. It is my contention that vigilance by the public would be more effective than bureacracy in spotting potential violaters.

Michael?

I'm afraid my question might get lost. I will start a new thread if agreeable.

[Conan71]

Wrinkle, would you care to cite some source material, or is this just random speculation on your part?  I find your posts are generally well-thought out, I'd simply like to know where you are getting your info.

[Townsend]

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=10847496

Local CBS story on it

[swake]

Once again, Sinclair is found not just to have violations of OSHA regulations, it's the same ones first discovered in 1995! Seems they never bothered to make the required changes.

With their efforts over the last couple of years, they were also fined $5M for illegal dumping into the river, which was also masked by temporary adjustments when inspectors were on scene.

What a wonderful example of a neighborly enterprize, holding up their end of making this a community we can all enjoy.

What's it take to nominate them for Public Nuiscance of the Year?

Better than that, perhaps a little code enforcement of our own would provide incintive for them to comply, or be run out. Or, was that their intention? Seems they're trying as hard as they know how.

Well, if by code enforcement I'm guessing you mean the city of Tulsa.

I don't think the refineries are in the city of Tulsa, aren't they on unannexed land?

[RecycleMichael]

On a related note, who does one contact to report suspected illegal polluting of a waterway? I know of one area that has always intrigued me. Something is happening there and some effort at hiding it has been made, but I don't know if it is legit or not. It is my contention that vigilance by the public would be more effective than bureacracy in spotting potential violaters.

Michael?

It depends on the waterway...The state Attorney General is involved in a watershed fight right now. The City of Tulsa regulates stormwater runoff into creeks and rivers...the state DEQ has primacy for most water pollution and would be the place I would always start...1 800 522 0206. That will get an investigation started within a day or two.

The EPA is the final authority on most pollution issues, but work so slow that the pollution will be gone by the time they show up.

I would take pictures...get some samples in clean containers...and call DEQ hotline to start.

[Wrinkle]

Wrinkle, would you care to cite some source material, or is this just random speculation on your part?  I find your posts are generally well-thought out, I'd simply like to know where you are getting your info.

KOTV covers it real well.

And, I know the two are unrelated, directly. The common thread is management. Seems the term 'culture of corruption' could apply.

If I were into black chopper scenarios, it'd be easy to suggest intentional, perpetual violations bringing a shutdown/management change could lead to major Federal infusions to clean up and rehabilitate the site, perhaps for something as obtuse as river development, or an Olympic Village.

...that should do it.

[waterboy]

It depends on the waterway...The state Attorney General is involved in a watershed fight right now. The City of Tulsa regulates stormwater runoff into creeks and rivers...the state DEQ has primacy for most water pollution and would be the place I would always start...1 800 522 0206. That will get an investigation started within a day or two.

The EPA is the final authority on most pollution issues, but work so slow that the pollution will be gone by the time they show up.

I would take pictures...get some samples in clean containers...and call DEQ hotline to start.

I do have pictures. The containers are next.

[Conan71]

KOTV covers it real well.

And, I know the two are unrelated, directly. The common thread is management. Seems the term 'culture of corruption' could apply.

If I were into black chopper scenarios, it'd be easy to suggest intentional, perpetual violations bringing a shutdown/management change could lead to major Federal infusions to clean up and rehabilitate the site, perhaps for something as obtuse as river development, or an Olympic Village.

...that should do it.

Any number of industrial employers will wind up with OSHA violations and/or fines upon inspection, it's simply not big news in the local media when it happens.  I'm not sure why this is so highly publicized.  Maybe some resentment for Sinclair not following through on the $1bln expansion?

[Wrinkle]

Any number of industrial employers will wind up with OSHA violations and/or fines upon inspection, it's simply not big news in the local media when it happens.  I'm not sure why this is so highly publicized.  Maybe some resentment for Sinclair not following through on the $1bln expansion?

It is when they were cited for the same items in 1995 and have done nothing to correct them.

As for the expansion, think it only on hold for now due to economic conditions (crash, financing). But, if it were to become more of the same, think I'd wish to pass anyway.

iirc, they were to reduce emissions by 30% (undoubtedly, as a rate), but triple the size of the operation. So, where would that leave us? Feels like running in place.

[Conan71]

It is when they were cited for the same items in 1995 and have done nothing to correct them.

As for the expansion, think it only on hold for now due to economic conditions (crash, financing). But, if it were to become more of the same, think I'd wish to pass anyway.

iirc, they were to reduce emissions by 30% (undoubtedly, as a rate), but triple the size of the operation. So, where would that leave us? Feels like running in place.

That sounds like a management issue if truly there are issues which were never fixed after the 1995 inspection, unless those are issues that were identified, were fixed and have recurred.  (Pages missing from MSDS books, fire extenguisher missing from a different station, etc.).  Nonetheless, companies of this size usually have safety-compliance officers, so it would look as if someone or some people aren't doing their job(s).

I'm curious where the follow-up and oversight were from OSHA for the last 14 years.

[Wrinkle]

Yeah, you'd think OSHA would show up a couple of times a year for something as sensitive as that plant in relation to our city. In under a minute, it could have some real devastating conseqences.