ExxonMobil plant reports flaring after power outage

A power outage Wednesday afternoon caused heavy flaring at the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Polyolefins Plant on Scenic Highway, according to ExxonMobil.

Significant flaring ended a couple of hours later after plant officials responded to the power outage, according to a statement from the company.

While neighbors within a two and a half mile radius were notified when the flaring began, ExxonMobil Industrial Hygiene personnel conducted air monitoring at the fence line and in the neighborhood and found no impact to the community, the company said.

The state Department of Environmental Quality also conducted air monitoring, and reported no impact, the company said.

Flaring helps burn excess hydrocarbons that can’t be processed during a shutdown, slowdown or restart, the company said. The flares are safety devices.

“We apologize for any inconvenience that the flaring may cause,” ExxonMobil officials said in the statement.

The plant produces high-density polyethylene and polypropylene, which are used to make items such as milk containers, carpet backing, containers for products that include shampoos as well as other applications, according to ExxonMobil’s website.