Williams Refining Clean Air Act Settlement
(Washington, D.C. - March 14, 2007) Williams Refining Co., the former owner and operator of a Memphis, Tenn., petroleum refinery, has agreed to pay $2.2 million in civil penalties to resolve allegations that the company violated the Clean Air Act (CAA), the Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency announced.
"EPA is committed to ensuring that all people breathe healthier, cleaner air," said Granta Nakayama, Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "This case shows that when a company violates the law by failing to control leaks of hazardous pollutants, EPA vigorously enforces the law."
The settlement agreement resolves several allegations including failure to comply with regulations intended to prevent benzene emissions, a chemical that Congress has labeled a hazardous air pollutant under the CAA.
Williams Refining has also agreed to resolve all allegations that it failed to comply with CAA standards regarding leak detection and repair regulations on equipment in its refinery. The agreement also resolves assertions that it failed to properly store hazardous waste as required under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and one violation under the Clean Water Act for an oil pipeline rupture.
- Press Release (03/14/07)
For additional information, contact:
Marlene Tucker
U.S. EPA Region 4
61 Forsyth Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 562-9536
tucker.marlene@epa.gov