The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final rule requiring U.S. refineries to use maximum achievable control technology (MACT) to limit toxic air emissions.
EPA said the final rule will protect the health of 4.5 million Americans living near refineries by reducing almost 60% of the chemicals like benzene that can cause cancer and other serious health problems. It said the rule also will greatly reduce air pollutants that contribute to smog (OGJ, July 10, P. 36).
The House of Representatives last week passed a funding bill that blocks EPA from proceeding with the rule. That legislation now goes to the Senate.
Urvan Sternfels, National Petroleum Refiners Association president, said EPA improved the rule from the original draft, but "it still calls for a huge constraint of financial resources for very little environmental benefit."
He said because the rule treats all refineries the same, much of the burden will fall on refineries that have made fewer improvements because they are in air quality attainment areas.
EMISSIONS GOAL
EPA said the regulation is designed to reduce emissions of II air toxics by 53,000 tons/year, representing a 59% drop from current levels.
It said the rule also will cut smog-causing volatile organic compound emissions (VOCs) by 277,000 tons/year, a 600/c reduction. VOCs are the main ingredient in formation of ground level ozone.
The agency said its cost-benefit analysis of the rule shows the smog reduction benefits alone will amount to more than $150 million/year, while the regulation will cost refiners only $95 million/year.
It said the rule will affect 192 existing refineries (and any facilities built in the future), many of them in heavily populated areas of California, Texas, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
It said people living near the plants are potentially at risk from health problems that include cancer, respiratory illness, and reproductive disorders.
The Clean Air Act defines MACT as the best demonstrated pollution control technology or practice in current use by similar sources anywhere in the U.S.
EMISSIONS AVERAGING
The new rule will allow emissions averaging, permitting refineries flexibility in deciding which emission sources to control.
"Plants may find it more cost effective to overcontrol certain emission sources and undercontrol others, the overall result being greater emission reduction at less cost," EPA said.
"Additional flexibility is provided by permitting the use of emissions averaging among petroleum refineries, marine terminal loading operations, and gasoline distribution facilities on the same site. The rule, however, specifies to what extent facilities may use emissions averaging and which emission points may be included.
Copyright 1995 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
