Hess fined for pollution from New Jersey refinery
Hess Corp. agreed to pay an $850,000 civil penalty and spend more than $45 million in new pollution controls to resolve Clean Air Act violations at its Port Reading, NJ, refinery, said the US Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Justice.
The settlement requires new and upgraded pollution controls, more-stringent emission limits, and aggressive monitoring, leak-detection, and repair practices to reduce emissions from refinery equipment and processing units. The refinery has a processing capacity of 70,000 b/d.
Once fully implemented, the controls required by the settlement are estimated to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide by 181 tons/year and result in additional reductions of volatile organic compounds.
Government officials said this settlement marks 31 similar settlements with refineries nationwide since 2000.
Hess was accused of modifying its refinery and increasing emissions without first obtaining the proper permits and installing required pollution-control equipment.
New Jersey participated in the settlement with Hess and will receive half of the civil penalty.
The consent decree, lodged in the District of New Jersey, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and court approval. Hess did not admit liability in the decree.
Paula Dittrick | Senior Staff Writer
Paula Dittrick has covered oil and gas from Houston for more than 20 years. Starting in May 2007, she developed a health, safety, and environment beat for Oil & Gas Journal. Dittrick is familiar with the industry’s financial aspects. She also monitors issues associated with carbon sequestration and renewable energy.
Dittrick joined OGJ in February 2001. Previously, she worked for Dow Jones and United Press International. She began writing about oil and gas as UPI’s West Texas bureau chief during the 1980s. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska in 1974.
