Hunt Refining Pays $49 Million to Settle Air Pollution Charges

WASHINGTON, DC, September 28, 2007 (ENS) - The Hunt Refining Co. and Hunt Southland Refining Co. have agreed to pay a $400,000 civil penalty and spend more than $48.5 million for new and upgraded pollution controls at three refineries, the Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

The settlement resolves alleged violations of the Clean Air Act and is expected to reduce more than 1,250 tons of harmful emissions annually from the company's petroleum refinery in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and asphalt refineries in Sandersville and Lumberton, Mississippi.

The states of Alabama and Mississippi have joined in today's consent decree and will share equal portions of the civil penalty with the EPA.

"This settlement, which was done in coordination with the States of Alabama and Mississippi, requires new pollution controls, reduces air pollutants by a significant amount, secures a sizeable civil penalty, and obtains important environmental projects for the impacted communities," said Ronald Tenpas, acting assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division.

The consent decree notes that Hunt "has denied and continues to deny the violations alleged in the complaint" by the federal government.

The violations relate to the burning off or "flaring" of gases from the refineries.

The agreement requires new pollution controls to be installed that will reduce annual emissions of nitrogen oxide by approximately 150 tons per year and sulfur dioxide by almost 1,100 tons per year when fully implemented.

The new controls also will result in additional reductions of volatile organic compounds and particulate matter from each of the refineries. Volatile organic compounds and sulfur dioxide can contribute to respiratory disorders such as asthma and reduced lung capacity. They can also cause damage to ecosystems and reduce visibility.

The three refineries covered by today's settlement have the capacity to produce nearly 70,000 barrels of oil per day.

In addition, Hunt will spend $475,000 on projects to benefit the community and environment. Hunt has agreed to upgrade controls to reduce volatile organic compound emissions from the wastewater systems at the Tuscaloosa refinery and will also buy emergency preparedness equipment and train mutual aid responders in Vicksburg, Mississippi. and Choctaw County, Alabama.

The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court.

In 1996, the EPA turned its focus toward improving compliance among petroleum refiners because of their potential to cause significant amounts of air pollution. At the time, the industry ranked at the top of the list as the biggest emitters of volatile organic compounds and sulfur dioxide emissions.

In addition, petroleum refiners emit large amounts of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide, the federal agency said. These pollutants contribute to respiratory illness and heart disease, childhood asthma, acid rain, and reduced visibility.

Earlier this year, similar settlements were reached with Valero Energy and Total Petrochemicals requiring approximately $270 million in new pollution controls at refineries in Texas, Tennessee and Ohio.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2007. All rights reserved.