{"id":1774,"date":"2014-03-20T11:54:51","date_gmt":"2014-03-20T18:54:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=1774"},"modified":"2014-03-20T14:19:30","modified_gmt":"2014-03-20T21:19:30","slug":"texas-chemical-plants-agreement-epa-will-mean-tons-less-air-pollution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=1774","title":{"rendered":"Texas Chemical Plant’s Agreement with EPA Means Tons Less in Air Pollutants"},"content":{"rendered":"

[box type=”info” font=”palatino” fontsize=”22″]\u201cThis settlement will mean cleaner, healthier air for residents of the Port Arthur area who continue to bear a disproportionate burden from the impacts of industrial pollution,\u201d said an attorney with the U.S. Justice Department. [\/box]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

TEXAS<\/strong> — A\u00a0Texas chemical company agreed to use new and innovative technology to control its air pollution from industrial flares and leaking equipment at its plant, according to federal authorities.<\/p>\n

Also as part of the settlement, Flint Hills Resources of Port Arthur will pay a $350,000 fine for Clean Air Act violations, \u00a0EPA and U.S. Justice officials announced \u00a0today.<\/p>\n

After the new equipment is reduced, EPA officials estimate that the emissions of volatile organic compounds or VOCs, including benzene and other hazardous air pollutants, will be reduced by 1,880 tons a year and will reduce greenhouse emissions by about 69,000 tons a year.<\/span><\/p>\n

“This settlement will mean cleaner, healthier air for residents of the Port Arthur area who continue to bear a disproportionate burden from the impacts of industrial pollution,\u201d said\u00a0<\/span>Acting Assistant Attorney General Robert G. Dreher of the Justice Department\u2019s Environment and Natural Resources Division.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for EPA\u2019s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance said: \u201c\u00a0By working with EPA, Flint Hills has advanced new air pollution controls that will help EPA bring similar air quality improvements to other American communities. EPA will continue to focus on tough pollution controls and cutting edge technologies in order to reduce the burden\u00a0of air pollution on Americans who need it most.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flint Hills Resources is a Wichita-Kansas based \u00a0independent refining, chemicals and biofuels company that has recently expanded its operations through capital projects and acquisitions worth more than $7.6 billion since 2002, according to its website.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThis agreement affirms the work we have already done to improve environmental performance
\nand reduce emissions at our Port Arthur chemical plant,\u201d said Phil Gaarder, vice president of operations\u00a0for Flint Hills Resources in a press release.<\/p>\n

Adding, \u201cWe are pleased to have worked cooperatively with the EPA to reach an \u00a0agreement that benefits area residents and appreciate EPA\u2019s commitment to identifying community projects with local support that will provide for additional emissions reductions in the area.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a huge unexpected benefit to the citizens of Port Arthur,\u201d Mayor Bobbie Prince, of\u00a0Port Arthur, is quoted \u00a0in Flint Hills’s press release. \u00a0\u201cEveryone wins. The city takes high emission vehicles off the street, many of our residents\u00a0will have access to energy efficient improvements, and our air is cleaner.<\/p>\n

The EPA said the settlement also requires Flint Hills to operate state\u2011of\u2011the\u2011art equipment to recover and recycle waste gases and to ensure that gases sent to flares are burned with 98 percent efficiency. The company has spent about $16 million to implement these required controls on industrial flares, officials said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are other details on the agreement between Flint Hills and the EPA:<\/strong><\/p>\n