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Petroleum Refinery National Case Results

Settlement Results
NEI Data Refining Sector
  ​​​​Data reported by the petroleum refining sectors
Data reported by the petroleum refining sector to EPA’s National Emissions Inventory* shows a significant and steady decline in SO2 and NOx emissions in this sector since the first of the NPRI settlements was reached in 2000 – approximately 75% less than pre-Refinery Initiative levels (data shown is in tons per year).
 
* For more information on EPA’s National Emissions Inventory

EPA's national Petroleum Refinery Initiative addresses air emissions from the Nation's petroleum refineries. Our results have been:

  • Since March 2000, the Agency has entered into 37 settlements with U.S. companies that refine over 95 percent of the Nation's petroleum refining capacity.
  • These settlements cover 112 refineries in 32 states and territories, and on full implementation will result in annual emissions reductions of more than 95,000 tons of nitrogen oxides and more than 260,000 tons of sulfur dioxide.

Settling companies have agreed to:

  • Invest more than $7 billion in control technologies and pay civil penalties of more than $116 million
  • Perform supplemental environmental projects over $116 million

EPA's settlements require:

  • Significant reductions of nitrogen oxide
  • Significant reductions of sulfur dioxide
  • Additional emission reductions of benzene, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter

EPA's investigations focused on the four most significant Clean Air Act compliance challenges for this industry and the emissions units that are the source of most of its pollution:

  • New Source Review/Prevention of Significant Deterioration
    • Fluidized catalytic cracking units
    • Heaters and boilers
  • New Source Performance Standards
    • Flares
    • Sulfur recovery units
    • Fuel gas combustion devices (including heaters and boilers)
  • Leak Detection and Repair requirements
  • Benzene National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants

EPA has reached innovative, multi-issue, multi-facility settlement negotiations with the following major petroleum refining companies:

Enforcement Alerts on Refinery Issues

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Last updated on December 13, 2022