Refinery on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Overview
This page shares EPA-related information about the petroleum refinery located on the island of St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands. The refinery was formerly known as Limetree Bay Terminals and Limetree Bay Refining, LLC and HOVENSA.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed the removal of ammonia, amines and liquified natural gas (LPG) from the refinery owned by the West Indies Petroleum Limited and Port Hamilton Refining and Transportation, LLLP on St. Croix.
EPA discontinued air monitoring for ammonia, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, as the removal operations for all materials have been completed.
This work grows from EPA enforcement actions related to this facility, which began in August 2022 and continued in September 2022 to assess general facility conditions. Contractors for Port Hamilton Refining and Transportation LLLP (PHRT) began work in April 2023 associated with a December 5, 2022, legal agreement, which required the safe removal of anhydrous ammonia, liquified petroleum gas and amine solutions, as specified in the Order on Consent.
Building on this progress, EPA and PHRT entered into a new administrative order on consent on August 23, 2024. This order requires PHRT to safely remove additional materials and implement enhanced safety measures for LPG Units #1 and #2, following a detailed inspection process. This action underscores EPA’s ongoing commitment to protecting the environment and public health on St. Croix.
EPA’s August 23, 2024 CAA/GDC Order on Consent (pdf)
PHRT General Duty Clause Inspection Report 12.19.23 Redacted (pdf)
The report contains redactions made by Port Hamilton which are intended to protect information that potentially could be Confidential Business Information and/or Personally Identifiable Information, although EPA has not made a final determination. These redactions are shown as black lines over the text. The Appendices to the report are not being provided, as they may also contain information that could be Confidential Business Information.
EPA’s Benzene Fenceline Monitoring Dashboard
- Watch this short video tutorial to learn how to navigate and use the Dashboard. This data is updated quarterly and should appear about 75 days after the end of each calendar quarter.
EPA web site on Air Monitoring Activities
EPA's February 9, 2023 Conditional Approval Letter (pdf)
PHRT’s January 27 2023 Executive Summary of Removal Options (pdf)
PHRT January 30 2023 letter with Master Schedule for Removal Work (pdf)
PHRT Options Report Jan. 20 2023 (pdf)
EPA Questions to PHRT Feb 3, 2023 (pdf)
PHRT Response to EPA Questions Feb 7 2023.Final.Part1 (pdf)
PHRT Response to EPA Questions.Feb 7 2023 Part II (pdf)
On December 5, 2022, EPA entered into a legal agreement requiring Port Hamilton Refining and Transportation LLLP (PHRT) to hire experts to safely remove chemicals that are not being properly managed at the facility in equipment that EPA had identified as being of concern after an EPA inspection. The Order on Consent requires full access for EPA to be on site to oversee the work and safety measures in the short-term until the chemicals are removed or secured.
EPA’s December 5, 2022, Order on Consent (pdf)
On July 21, 2023, EPA issued administrative compliance orders to PHRT, WIPL, operators of the petroleum refinery, and Limetree Bay Terminals (d/b/a Ocean Point Terminals), operators of the bulk fuel terminal on the south shore of St. Croix. The orders require the companies to submit applications for coverage under Territorial Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permit for their discharges of pollutants into receiving waters and implement corrective actions. EPA has shared the orders with Virgin Islands government, including the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR).
On June 7, 2024, PHRT submitted a permit application to the Division of Environmental Protection of the USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources.
During June 10-14, 2024, EPA performed a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Compliance Evaluation Inspections (“Inspections”) of the areas owned/operated by PHRT, areas owned/operated by OPT, areas co-operated by PHRT and OPT. The Inspections also included including wastewater sampling and seawater intake sampling. DPNR personnel participated in the Inspections. EPA is evaluating the information gathered and observations made during the Inspections and working collaboratively with DPNR to bring PHRT and OPT into compliance with the Clean Water Act and the TPDES Rules and Regulations (Title 12, Chapter 7, Subchapter 184).
PHRT and WIPL Clean Water Act Orders (July 21 2023) (pdf)
OPT Clean Water Act Order (July 21, 2023) (pdf)
On November 16, 2022, EPA determined that the owners and operators of the shuttered refinery must apply for and obtain a new air pollution permit before operating the refinery. The permit, a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit, is issued under the Clear Air Act. PSD permit applications must include detailed analyses of modeled impacts on air quality and the use of the best available air pollution control technology.
EPA’s Nov. 16, 2022, PSD permit decision cover letter (pdf)
EPA’s Nov. 16, 2022, Attachment two, containing legal support for the Reactivation Policy. (pdf)
EPA’s October 13, 2022, Inspection Letter to Port Hamilton Refining and Transportation (pdf)
EPA issued the inspection report to the company. EPA cannot elaborate further while in active discussion with the company and until we have a final action to address the issues. In the interest of transparency, EPA has released its inspection report.
The week of September 20, 2022, EPA inspected the facility to more broadly determine the general state of chemical safety at the facility, and during that inspection, EPA noted serious deficiencies in the way that this facility is being maintained.
EPA's August 18, 2022, Letter to Port Hamilton Refining and Transportation (pdf)
On August 7, 2022, Port Hamilton Refining and Transportation issued a news release in which it wrote that a pile of petroleum coke was found to be smoldering at the facility on St. Croix. Petroleum coke is a charcoal-like substance that is a byproduct of refining oil. On August 18, 2022, EPA issued a letter to Port Hamilton Refining and Transportation seeking information and documents relating to the incident.
On March 22, 2022, EPA sent a letter to West Indies Petroleum Limited (WIPL) and Port Hamilton Refining and Transportation, LLLP (PHRT) - the new owners of the former Limetree Bay refinery on St. Croix – informing them that, based on the information currently available to EPA, there are strong indicators to suggest that the refinery must obtain a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit prior to any potential startup of refinery operations. In the letter, EPA asks for additional information from WIPL and PHRT regarding past and future changes to process and emission units at the refinery to enable the Agency to evaluate this issue further before making a final determination regarding the need for a PSD permit.
On March 2, 2022, the Department of Justice and EPA transmitted letters to WIPL/PHRT, summarizing a number of requirements to be met before restarting the refinery. The Department of Justice has stated that its letter pertains to matters in active litigation and is therefore not posted to EPA’s website.
The West Indies Petroleum Limited and Port Hamilton Refining and Transportation, LLLP (jointly WIPL/PHRT) emerged as the winning bidder for the Limetree Bay refinery from an auction held in bankruptcy court on December 21, 2021.
In May 2021, EPA ordered the then-owner Limetree Bay to pause all operations at its St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands refinery following multiple air emissions incidents due to the imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare of the environment posed by continued refinery operation. This order was augmented and extended by the compliant and stipulation filed on July 12, 2021.
For historical information and key documents related to the facility when it was owned by Limetree bay, please visit Limetree Bay Terminals and Limetree Bay Refining, LLC.