Acknowledgement to XL Environmental THE CLAIM An XL-insured petroleum refinery experienced an explosion while activating an alkylation unit at the refinery. Approximately 4,900 pounds of hydrogen fluoride were released and 90,000 pounds of hydrofluoric acid were generated. The local fire department responded, using water to extinguish the fire and suppress the acid from migrating off-site. […]

Acknowledgement to XL Environmental THE CLAIM An XL-insured coal-fired power plant stored baghouse dusts containing heavy metals in an uncovered dumpster behind the facility. Whenever it rained, storm water mixed with the dust, forming a slurry, which eventually migrated off-site. Contamination to an adjoining, third-party property was determined to have occurred over the course of […]

Acknowledgement to XL Environmental COVERAGE NEED A potential XL insured, an alternative energy company, was developing a site for an ethanol production facility. The owners had concerns regarding known arsenic contamination in groundwater from an adjacent Superfund site and desired full Pollution and Remediation Legal Liability coverage from XL. The facility had a need to […]

Acknowledgement to XL Environmental THE CLAIM Workers at an XL insured’s chemical blending facility were transferring a highly toxic chemical, p nitro aniline (PNA), from 55-gallon drums into 2,000 lb. super sacks. During the transfer, an estimated 500 lbs. of this chemical was spilled, exposing the workers, the insured’s property and neighboring properties to the […]

Acknowledgement to XL Environmental THE CLAIM An explosion and a series of fires occurred at an XL insured’s chemical plant. The explosion occurred while workers were unloading chemicals from train cars. The fire department responded to the scene. Fire suppression water flowed one mile away onto an adjacent property, contaminating the adjacent location. Our insured […]

Acknowledgement to XL Environmental THE CLAIM An XL insured chemical blending and distribution facility experienced a fire and explosion. The fire originated from the packaging area of the plant and occurred as an operator was filling a steel tote tank with ethyl acetate. The cause of the fire was a static electrical spark resulting from […]

Acknowledgement to XL Environmental THE CLAIM Soil sampling activities at an XL insured’s facility indicated low levels of fertilizer constituent contamination over a large percentage of the site. Sampling results were submitted to the state regulatory agency which required a corrective action plan (CAP) be submitted for approval, subsequent site excavation and remediation. A toxic […]

Acknowledgement to XL Environmental THE CLAIM An XL insured retail agricultural-chemical distribution facility selling bulk fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides was inspected by a state environmental protection agency (EPA). The EPA inspection found several fresh spills of liquid and dry fertilizers at various locations around the insured’s property. Soil samples indicated widespread concentrations of nitrates, sulfates, […]

Acknowledgement to XL Environmental THE CLAIM An XL insured chemical manufacturer received rail cars of sodium hydroxide on its rail spur, located on its property. While performing offloading operations, a large release of sodium hydroxide from a rail car occurred. The release was caused when a 2 inch hose dislodged from its connection coupling. More […]

A manufacturer of cast iron pipe was fined $8 million for dozens of environmental violations and lying about numerous safety violations at its plant along the Delaware River. The company is under federal monitor for a four-year probationary period. Prosecutors sought a maximum fine of $15 million for the company, which was convicted in 2006 […]

A lawsuit accuses a tannery of contaminating farmland with a chemical that caused brain-tumors in residents of a Missouri town.  The tannery is alleged to have used hexavalent chromium to remove hair from hides, and then providing the resulting waste product to area farmers to use as fertilizer. The lawsuit claims thousands of tons of […]

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing to fine a chemical company $121,500 for a toxic leak that led to an acid cloud forcing hundreds of western Pennsylvania residents to evacuate. OSHA reports that the company committed 27 serious safety violations when 3,300 pounds of oleum leaked when a transfer tank overflowed because […]