ConocoPhillips Global Refinery Settlement

The Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have completed a comprehensive Clean Air Act settlement with ConocoPhillips that is expected to reduce harmful air emissions by more than 47,000 tons per year from nine U.S. petroleum refineries in seven states that represent nearly 10 percent of total refining capacity in the United States.

The proposed consent decree is subject to a public comment period and final court approval. Visit the Petroleum Refinery Initiative for more information.

Geography
Capacity
Emissions reduction
Injunctive Relief
Penalty
Supplemental Environmental Projects
State and Local Cooperation

Geography: Nine refineries

Belle Chasse, La.
Linden, N.J.
Borger, Texas
Sweeny, Texas
Carson/Wilmington, Calif.
Rodeo/Santa Maria, Calif.
Ferndale, Wash.
Trainer, Pa.
Roxanna/Hartford, Ill.

Capacity:

1,684,000 barrels of oil per day (does not include capacity covered under the 2001 pre-merger global refinery consent decree with Conoco, covering four refineries located in Lake Charles, La., Ponca City, Okla., Billings, Mont., and Commerce City, Colo.) 10 percent of industry capacity.

Emissions reductions:

NO_x projected to be reduced by 10,000 tons per year.
SO₂ projected to be reduced by 37,100 tons per year.

Injunctive Relief:

More than $525 million to be spent on injunctive relief through 2012.

Guaranteed NO_x and SO₂ emission reductions nationwide.

Commitment to reduce the number and severity of major flaring events at all facilities.

Commitment to implement enhanced procedures to reduce benzene emissions and VOC leaks from valves and other equipment at all facilities.

Penalty: $4.525 million civil penalty includes ($1.525 million to be paid to participating states)

Supplemental Environmental Projects: ConocoPhillips will spend over $10 million on environmentally beneficial activities, as follows:

Bayway Refinery, New Jersey: Cover and control the oil/water separator at the refinery at a cost of no less than $8 million.
Wood River Refinery, Ill: Purchase a "foam aerial apparatus" (a very sophisticated fire truck) for mutual aid response in the vicinity of the refinery at a cost of no less than $900,000.
Trainer Refinery, Pa: Donate $400,000 to the Delaware County, Pa., Local Emergency Planning Committee to fund radio systems and an emergency broadcast radio channel.
Alliance Refinery, La: Donate $400,000 to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to support collection and recycling of household hazardous waste.
Ferndale Refinery, Wash: Purchase a fire truck for mutual aid response in the vicinity of the refinery at a cost of no less than $150,000; enter into a contract with a local economic development authority to replace approximately 40 old, fireplaces or wood stoves with new, clean-burning fireplaces or certified wood stoves for low-income households in the vicinity of the refinery at a cost of no less than $125,000; and enter into a contract with a local environmental non-profit group to develop emissions inventories and emissions reductions targets for cities, towns, and counties in the jurisdiction of the Northwest Clean Air Agency at a cost of no less than $125,000.

State and Local Cooperation: Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the Northwest Clean Air Agency (Washington State).

For additional information, contact:

Patrick W. Foley
Senior Environmental Engineer
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2242A)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20460-0001
(202) 564-7978
foley.patrick@epa.gov