Coffeyville Resources Refining & Marketing LLC will pay more than $23 million to address Clean Air Act violations and offset environmental damages associated with its Kansas refinery.
Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice today announced a settlement with Coffeyville Resources Refining & Marketing LLC and its affiliates (CRRM) for violations of the Clean Air Act and a prior consent decree related to the operation of its petroleum refinery. (Coffeyville, Kansas). These violations have led to illegal emissions of various pollutants including EPA estimates of over 2,300 excess tons of sulfur dioxide (SO).2), a pollutant that can make breathing more difficult, from refinery fires from 2015 to 2017.
The United States and the State of Kansas allege that the CRRM violated several provisions of A 2012 Consent Decree And the Clean Air Act. Under the settlement, CRRM will spend at least $1 million on a project to benefit the public and the environment in Kansas and implement measures costing up to $9 million to prevent future violations and address environmental damage caused by their illegal conduct. The company will also pay more than $13 million in fines to the United States and Kansas.
“The settlement with Coffeyville fulfills the promise of EPA’s new climate enforcement strategy by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of the annual emissions of 10,000 cars,” he said. Assistant Administrator David M. Ullman of EPA’s 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 breathing more difficult and causes smog, acid rain, and damage to trees and plants.”
“This settlement shows that the United States will take decisive action to address violations of the Clean Air Act, enforce the terms of consent decrees and advance environmental justice,” she said. Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim, Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The emissions reductions achieved under this settlement will result in healthier air for a community that is disproportionately affected by air pollution, including residents of nearby Cherokee County.”
“We are committed to protecting people and families in the communities in which they live,” he said. EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister. “In addition to the emissions controls set forth in the settlement, this order requires CRRM to invest $1 million in an environmental project approved by the State of Kansas, which will directly benefit the citizens of the state.”
Since the United States and Kansas began investigating CRRM’s alleged noncompliance in 2016, CRRM’s efforts to comply with Clean Air Act requirements have already eliminated more than 39,000 tons per year of carbon dioxide (CO).2) Emissions from excessive combustion of waste gases, equivalent to using approximately 4 million fewer gallons of gasoline per year. Additionally, EPA estimates that the flare gas recovery system required by the consent decree filed today will further reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 12,888 tons, the equivalent of using 1.3 million fewer gallons of gasoline annually and will also reduce annual emissions of sulfur dioxide.2 By 1.7 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOs) by 9.57 tons. Nitrogen oxides are the main contributor to smog formation.
In 2020, the United States and Kansas sought more than $6.8 million in stipulated penalties from CRRM for the company’s alleged violations of the 2012 Consent Decree – primarily related to its failure to properly monitor SO.2 Emissions from burning. Various refining processes ignite or burn waste gases that release various pollutants into the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide, methane, and sulfur dioxide.2. The US District Court for the District of Kansas held CRRM responsible for the stipulated penalties and the company appealed the decision.
Also in 2020, the United States and Kansas alleged additional Clean Air Act violations at the refinery, resulting in increased sulfur dioxide emissions.2 In a society already disproportionately affected by air pollution. Exposure to SO2 It can harm breathing and particularly affects people with asthma, children, and the elderly. High concentrations of SO2 It can lead to the formation of other sulfur oxides and eventually 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 request for the sanctions set forth and the violations identified in the complaint. The Customer Relationship Management (CRRM) should:
- paid more than $6.8 million in court-ordered stipulated fines and $183,000 in stipulated fines for additional violations of the 2012 Consent Decree;
- Pay more than $6.2 million in additional penalties for Clean Air Act violations alleged in the complaint;
- Spend at least $1 million on an environmentally beneficial project to be approved by the state of Kansas;
- Take various measures to facilitate future compliance with the Clean Air Act;
- reduce nos emissions from refinery heaters; And
- Construction of a approximately $9 million flare gas recovery system to reduce refinery flaring.
EPA Region 7, EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment investigated the case. The Department of Justice’s Environmental Enforcement Division (ENRD) and the State of Kansas prosecuted the case.
The consent decree, which was 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 at 2023 Clean Air Act Settlement Information Sheet for Coffeyville Resources Refining & Marketing, LLC.
