MEDIA Advisory

June 15, 2005

Norco, LA – The Motiva Norco Refinery column, which is currently sitting at the Central Insurance Agency on Airline Highway (Highway 61) in Montz, Louisiana, will be moving soon. The column is scheduled to move across the Bonnet Carre Spillway on Saturday, June 18, 2005 beginning at 6:30am and concluding at approximately 5pm.
 
The 420 ton, 97 foot long, and 17 foot wide column will be moving at approximately two miles per hour. The vessel will travel in the westbound lane on Airline Highway across the Spillway. Once across the bridge and in Norco, it will switch to the eastbound lane. The move across the Spillway should be completed by 12 noon.
 
The column will turn off of Airline at Prospect Avenue, where it will make its way onto the Motiva property. The move from Airline in Norco to Prospect is expected to wrap up by 3pm. Prospect Avenue is expected to be blocked between the hours of 3-5pm.
 
The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Department and Louisiana State Police will be on hand directing traffic on Airline while the move is underway. Some traffic delays should be expected, however traffic will be allowed to travel eastbound and westbound on Airline throughout the day.
 
This column is a crucial piece in helping the Motiva Norco Refinery to meet federal guidelines established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) standard requires an approximate 97 percent reduction of sulfur levels (from 500 parts per million (ppm) to 15 ppm) in highway diesel fuel by June 1, 2006.  ULSD applies to heavy-duty highway engines and vehicles, such as large pick-ups, buses, delivery trucks, recreational vehicles (RVs), and semi trucks. This new regulation applies to all refineries that intend to sell fuel for heavy-duty highway engine vehicles.
 
“In order to meet the EPA’s new specifications, the Motiva Norco Refinery will have to modify an existing unit, which is why this column is being brought to the Norco site,” commented Motiva Norco Refinery External Affairs Manager Kimberly Windon.
 
The ULSD project will cost the facility approximately $94 million.

 No permanent changes to operations, maintenance or technical staffing will be required. Approximately $20 million will be spent in construction labor to a regional workforce. The estimated average manpower in 2005 is 100 craftspeople for approximately 10 months.  Peak manpower (400 craftspeople) will occur in first quarter of 2006 and is expected to last approximately 2 months. 
 
For more information on the ULSD rule, please click on the following link http://www.epa.gov/ and type in Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel in the search box.
 
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Media Contact:
Kimberly Windon
Motiva Norco Refinery
External Affairs Manager
Work: (504) 465-6759
Cell: (985) 212-0024

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