The Lubrizol company was sentenced to two fines of 1,500 euros for infringements noted during the decontamination of its Seveso site in Rouen where a spectacular fire had occurred in September 2019. According to the report drawn up by the services of the State, revealed by the Norman media

Le Poulpe

, the conviction follows an inspection of the decontamination operations of the Rouen plant at the end of 2019.

The decision of the Rouen police court dates from March 23, said the prosecutor of the Republic of Rouen Pascal Prache.

“During the inspection, there was only one person at the control room console instead of two as provided for by the operator in his validated protocol.

This person was, according to his statements, not qualified for this post (in training).

The second person was having lunch (therefore not in the unit either), ”the inspectors had noted according to the report.

An "unbearable" smell

In addition, “the absence of an odor neutralizer is contrary to the provisions of the prefectural decree of July 24, 2019 providing that on the unit, an introduction of a product masking the odor is in place to reduce the olfactory impact by the addition of an overwhelming odor, ”they also pointed out. Regular odors emanated from the site until the evacuation of the last barrel on September 3, 2020, indicated Charlotte Goujon, vice-president of the PS of the metropolis, in charge of industrial risks, and mayor of Petit-Quevilly, a town bordering the automotive lubricants factory.

On August 13 again, in the middle of a heatwave, the smell was "unbearable" in Petit-Quevilly, preventing residents from opening their windows and causing some nausea or headaches, she said.

Nearly 3,000 tons of waste had been evacuated from the 15,000 m2 of the burnt area.

The indictment of Lubrizol?

On September 26, 2019, nearly 10,000 tons of chemicals went up in smoke on the Rouen site of Lubrizol and the neighboring one of Normandie Logistique, with fallout in five departments.

The long-term health consequences of these spillovers remain uncertain.

The Paris Court of Appeal is due to rule on June 30 on the indictment of Lubrizol following this fire, which the company owned by American billionaire Warren Buffet is contesting.

From a source close to the case, the public prosecutor's office opposed the company's request during the hearing on March 31.

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  • Justice

  • Conviction

  • Fine

  • Lubrizol

  • Rouen

  • Depollution

  • Fire