"A figure that cannot be ignored": Anomalies in Haifa Bay are troubling
Since Friday, more than 130 benzene measurements above the alert value have been recorded at the Bazan station. The Haifa Bay Cities Association demands to locate the source of the emissions and clarifies that a spot check without a leak is not sufficient.
More than 130 half-hourly measurements of benzene above the alert value of 10 micrograms per cubic meter have been recorded since last Friday at the Bazan operational monitoring station, located at the fence of the Bazan complex in Haifa Bay.
The data leads the Haifa Bay Cities Association for Environmental Protection to demand that Bazan deepen its inspections, present the relevant operational data, and act to locate the source of the emissions. The Association emphasizes that the fact that no leak was detected during a spot check does not provide an answer to the multitude of anomalies measured.
Following the rise in benzene concentrations, teams from the Haifa Bay Cities Association for Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Environmental Protection conducted tours and inspections at the Gadiv plant.
During a surprise inspection held on August 2, the plant was required to provide operational data and coordinate additional inspections. In another inspection conducted by the Association yesterday (Thursday), benzene storage tanks and fuel dispensing activity were checked using a thermal camera. During the inspection, no leaks were detected.
The Association clarifies that the inspections are continuing and that all possible sources for the rise in benzene concentrations must continue to be examined until the source of the anomalies is located and addressed.
"Act immediately to locate the source of the emissions"
Deputy and Acting Mayor of Haifa and Chairman of the Haifa Bay Cities Association for Environmental Protection, Avihu Han, stated:
"More than 130 benzene measurements above the alert value in a short period of time are a figure that cannot be ignored. We demand that Bazan provide clear answers and act immediately to locate the source of the emissions. A spot check in which no leak was detected cannot end the investigation. Our responsibility is to protect public health and the environment, and therefore we will not be satisfied with one inspection. Bazan must activate all the monitoring and inspection measures at its disposal, check all possible sources, and continue to act until the source of the anomalies is located and addressed. The Association will continue to monitor, inspect, and supervise in the field until clear answers are received."
CEO of the Haifa Bay Cities Association for Environmental Protection, Dr. Lihi Shahar Berman, stated:
"The multitude of anomalous measurements requires us to continue with a professional, systematic, and in-depth inspection. The fact that no leak was identified using a thermal camera during the last inspection is an important piece of data, but it does not rule out the possibility of other emission sources and does not explain the benzene concentrations measured. We continue to examine the data, the operational activity, and the possible sources for the emissions, and we demand that the plant provide all the required information. The goal is clear: to locate the source of the anomalies, understand the cause of them, and ensure they are addressed."
The Haifa Bay Cities Association for Environmental Protection notes that monitoring and supervision in the field will continue, and that the Association will demand all operational data and the actions required to locate the source of the emissions and complete the investigation. The Association emphasizes that the multitude of anomalies requires continued inspection until a full and clear picture is obtained, and that the absence of findings in a spot check is not a substitute for locating the source of the emissions.
