LENEXA, CAN. (NOVEMBER 20, 2023) โ The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice today announced a settlement with Coffeyville Resources Refining & Marketing LLC and its affiliated companies (CRRM) for violations of the Clean Air Act and a prior consent decree related to the operation of its oil refinery. in Coffeyville, Kansas.
These violations resulted in illegal emissions of several pollutants, including an EPA estimate of more than 2,300 tons of excess sulfur dioxide (SO2), a pollutant that can make breathing difficult, from refinery flaring from 2015 to 2017.
The United States and the state of Kansas allege that CRRM violated numerous provisions of a 2012 consent decree and the Clean Air Act. Under the agreement, CRRM will spend at least $1 million on a project to benefit the public and the Kansas environment and will implement measures costing up to $9 million to prevent future violations and repair environmental damage caused by its illegal conduct. The company will also pay more than $13 million in fines to the United States and Kansas.
"The agreement with Coffeyville delivers on the promise of EPA's new climate enforcement strategy by reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual emissions of 10,000 cars," said EPA Deputy Administrator David M. Uhlmann. EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "In addition, the actions we are taking together with our state partners in Kansas will reduce harmful air pollution that makes it difficult to breathe and causes smog, acid rain, and damage to trees and plants."
โThis agreement demonstrates that the United States will take decisive action to address violations of the Clean Air Act, enforce the terms of consent decrees, and promote environmental justice." said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Department of Justice's Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). "The emissions reductions achieved under this agreement will result in healthier air for a community disproportionately affected by air pollution, including residents of the nearby Cherokee Nation."
โWe are committed to protecting people and families in the communities where they live,โ said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister. โIn addition to the emissions controls provided for in Under the agreement, this order requires CRRM to invest $1 million in an environmental project to be approved by the state of Kansas, which will directly benefit the citizens of the state.โ
Since the United States and Kansas began investigating alleged CRRM noncompliance in 2016, CRRM efforts to meet Clean Air Act requirements have already removed more than 39,000 tons per year of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from excessive burning of waste gases, which is equivalent to using almost 4 million fewer gallons of gasoline per year. Additionally, EPA estimates that the flue gas recovery system required by the consent decree filed today will further reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 12,888 tons, equivalent to using 1.3 million fewer gallons of gasoline per year, and will also reduce annual SO emissions.2 in 1.7 tons and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in 9.57 tons. NOx is one of the main contributors to the formation of smog.
In 2020, the United States and Kansas sought more than $6.8 million in stipulated sanctions from the CRRM due to the company's alleged violations of the 2012 consent decree, primarily related to its failure to adequately track SO.2 emissions from burning. Various refinery processes lead to the flaring or flaring of waste gases that emit various pollutants into the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide, methane, and SO.2. The United States District Court for the District of Kansas held CRRM liable for the stipulated sanctions and the company appealed the decision.
Also in 2020, the United States and Kansas alleged additional violations of the Clean Air Act at the refinery, resulting in excess SO emissions.2 in a community that is already disproportionately affected by air pollution. OS Exposure2 It can damage breathing and particularly affects people with asthma, children and older adults. High concentrations of SO2 can lead to the formation of other sulfur oxides and ultimately small particles, which can contribute to particulate pollution, acid rain and damage to trees and plants.
The consent decree, which the United States filed today, resolves the stipulated sanctions claim and the violations identified in the complaint. CRRM must:
- Pay more than $6.8 million in stipulated penalties awarded by the court and $183,000 in stipulated penalties for additional violations of the 2012 consent decree.
- Pay more than $6.2 million in additional fines for Clean Air Act violations alleged in the complaint.
- Spend at least $1 million on an environmentally beneficial project that will be approved by the state of Kansas.
- Undertake various measures to facilitate future compliance with the Clean Air Act.
- Reduce NOx emissions from refinery heaters.
- Build an approximately $9 million flare gas recovery system to reduce refinery flaring.
EPA Region 7, the EPA Office of Compliance and Compliance Assurance, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment investigated the case. The Department of Justice's ENRD Environmental Enforcement Section and the State of Kansas prosecuted the case.
The consent decree, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. The consent decree will be available for viewing. online.
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