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Friday, November 30, 2007
Environment - "BP Alleged to Have Modified Whiting Refinery Illegally"
A release from the Environmental News Service today begins:
CHICAGO, Illinois, November 29, 2007 (ENS) - The federal government today formally notified BP Products North America Inc. of alleged violations of multiple Clean Air Act requirements at its refinery in Whiting, Indiana, near Chicago.The NWI Times also has a brief story today.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 alleges that the BP Whiting refinery, failed to obtain a permit when it made "major modifications" to its fluidized catalytic cracking unit.
A fluidized catalytic cracking unit converts heavier oils into lighter products such as gasoline and naphtha. The modifications were made in BP's pursuit of the capacity to handle more Canadian heavy crude oil by modernizing the refinery located at 2815 Indianapolis Blvd.
The unpermitted modification caused "significant increases" of nitrogen oxide, NOx, sulfur dioxide, SO2, particulate matter, PM10, and carbon monoxide, CO, emissions, says the federal agency.
The agency also claims that BP violated New Source Performance Standards at Whiting by modifying flares without complying with requirements, exceeding SO2 emission limits, and failing to monitor emissions from several sources.
These New Source Performance Standards regulate new and modified industrial facilities that contribute to air pollution.
Finally, BP is accused of failing to conduct timely performance tests of hydrogen chloride emissions from its catalytic reforming units.
BP has 10 days to request a conference to discuss these clean air violations.
At the same time it is being notified of these violations, the company is proposing to lower air emissions limits at the Whiting Refinery.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on November 30, 2007 10:06 AM
Posted to Environment