Williams Refining Clean Air Act Settlement
(Washington, D.C. - March 14, 2007) Williams Refining
Co., the former owner and operator of a Memphis, Tenn.,
petroleum refinery, has agreed to pay $2.2 million in civil
penalties to resolve allegations that the company violated
the Clean Air Act (CAA), the Justice Department and the
Environmental Protection Agency announced.
"EPA is committed to ensuring that all people breathe healthier, cleaner air," said
Granta Nakayama, Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and
Compliance Assurance. "This case shows that when a company violates the law by
failing to control leaks of hazardous pollutants, EPA vigorously enforces the
law."
The settlement agreement resolves several allegations including failure to comply
with regulations intended to prevent benzene emissions, a chemical that Congress
has labeled a hazardous air pollutant under the CAA.
Williams Refining has also agreed to resolve all allegations that it failed to
comply with CAA standards regarding leak detection and repair regulations on
equipment in its refinery. The agreement also resolves assertions that it failed
to properly store hazardous waste as required under the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act and one violation under the Clean Water Act for an oil pipeline
rupture.
- Press Release (03/14/07)
- Settlement Order (PDF) (10 pp, 290K, About PDF)
- Complaint (PDF) (14 pp, 497K, About PDF)
For additional information, contact:
Marlene Tucker
U.S. EPA Region 4
61 Forsyth Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 562-9536
tucker.marlene@epa.gov
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