13 U.S. refineries exceeded emissions limits for cancer-causing benzene in 2020
4/30/2021
Thirteen U.S. oil refineries released the cancer-causing chemical benzene in concentrations that exceeded federal limits last year, according to government data published by the green group Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) this week.
The study is based on the second full year of data reported by U.S. refineries since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2015 began requiring continuous monitoring of air pollutants around plants to protect nearby communities, many of which are disproportionately poor, Black and Hispanic.
In 2019, eleven refineries made the list, EIP said. If the Biden EPA wants to act on its environmental justice promises, these neighborhoods near refineries are a great place to start, Benjamin Kunstman, staff engineer at EIP, told Reuters.
A flame burns at the Shell Deer Park oil refinery in Deer Park, Texas.
Three refineries in Texas are under scrutiny for again exceeding federal limits for cancer-causing benzene emissions, according to a
A recently-enacted federal rule requires refineries to conduct fenceline monitoring for benzene, a toxic pollutant known to cause cancer. When emissions exceed a certain level, refineries are supposed to come up with a plan to reduce them.
But in an analysis of EPA data, the Environmental Integrity Project found three Texas refineries had benzene emissions above that federal threshold two years in a row.
The Total Refinery in Port Arthur had the highest levels of benzene at its fenceline, exceeding the EPA threshold by 86%, according to the report. It was followed by Marathon’s Galveston Bay refinery, which was 68% over the federal action level, and CITGO s Corpus Christi East refinery, which was 22% over the federal level.
By Syndicated Content
By Laura Sanicola
(Reuters) – Thirteen U.S. oil refineries released the cancer-causing chemical benzene in concentrations that exceeded federal limits last year, three more than in 2019, according to government data published by the green group Environmental Integrity Project on Wednesday.
The study is based on the second full year of data reported by U.S. refineries since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began requiring continuous monitoring of air pollutants around plants to protect nearby communities, many of which are disproportionately poor, black and Hispanic.
“If the Biden EPA wants to act on its environmental justice promises, these neighborhoods near refineries are a great place to start,” Benjamin Kunstman, staff engineer at the Environmental Integrity Project, told Reuters.
Energy13 U.S. refineries exceeded emissions limits for cancer-causing benzene in 2020 -report
Laura SanicolaLaila Kearney
4 minutes read
Sun sets on the Philadelphia Energy Solutions plant refinery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., January 9, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela
Thirteen U.S. oil refineries released the cancer-causing chemical benzene in concentrations that exceeded federal limits last year, according to government data published by the green group Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) on Wednesday.
The study is based on the second full year of data reported by U.S. refineries since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2015 began requiring continuous monitoring of air pollutants around plants to protect nearby communities, many of which are disproportionately poor, Black and Hispanic.