Two oil companies have agreed to pay $425 million in a settlement over alleged Clean Air Act violations. The majority of the funds used – $403 million – will modify a total of six oil refineries, reducing emissions of hazardous air pollutants by thousands of tons.
The settlement, announced Monday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Administration, is noted the largest deal of its kind, according to the Justice Department. The affected refineries operate in Kenai, Alaska; Martinez, California; Kapolei, Hawaii; Mandan, North Dakota; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Anacortes, Washington.
“Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide – there’s going to be tens of thousands of tons of pollution reduced every year as a result of this consent decree,” U.S. Assistant Attorney General John Cruden announced in Seattle, according to KPLU.
Refineries will install new equipment to control emissions. Additionally, refineries’ installation of cutting-edge enforcement measures, such as infrared cameras that can detect compounds invisible to the naked eye, will assist the project.
According to reports the Anacortes Tesoro plant is among the refineries targeted for major environmental upgrades. In 2010, a explosion and fire caused by the rupture of a heat exchanger, killed seven of the refinery’s workers.
Under the settlement, Tesoro is obliged “to pay for the third-party audits of compliance with increased leak detection and repair requirements at all of the facilities.” Furthermore, the plant will pay $22.45 million for civil penalties and local environmental projects.
Upon modifying the six refineries, emissions are expected to drop by 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.
The settlement will be set before a judge for final approval, following a 30-day public comment period.