Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Tesoro's Salt Lake refinery will have to reduce its emissions by 1,000 tons a year under a settlement agreement reached with the U.S. Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency.
The $425 million settlement for Clean Air Act violations announced Monday requires Tesoro to install $125 million worth of pollution controls at the Salt Lake refinery, including low nitrogen oxide burners on its furnace.
Tesoro, its subsidiaries and Par Hawaii Refining Co. will institute pollution controls at six refineries. Tesoro will also have to pay a $10.4 million civil penalty.
“This settlement, achieved in partnership with states, will benefit the air quality in communities across the Western United States,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “It uses cutting edge technology to address global environmental issues like climate change by controlling flaring, and provides important reductions of harmful air pollution in communities facing environmental and health challenges.”
The EPA said once the companies install the pollution controls required by the settlement, annual emissions reductions at the six refineries will total an estimated 773 tons of sulfur dioxide, 407 tons of nitrogen oxides, 1,140 tons of volatile organic compounds, 27 tons of hazardous air pollutants, 20 tons of hydrogen sulfide and the equivalent of 47,034 tons of carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas.
Greenhouse gas emissions from flaring will be reduced by 60 percent overall.
Beyond the pollution control technology, Tesoro will also have to deploy infrared gas-imaging cameras at four refineries to supplement the company’s enhanced leak detection and repair program. The cameras are able to locate fugitive volatile organic compound emissions that may not be otherwise detected.
The settlement requires Tesoro to pay for independent third-party auditing of compliance with the settlement's terms.
