Coffeyville Resources Refining & Marketing, Environmental Violations, Kansas 2023
WASHINGTON – In a shocking move, Coffeyville Resources Refining & Marketing (CRRM) has been accused of environmental violations related to air emissions at its Coffeyville, Kan., refinery.
The company has agreed to pay a civil penalty of more than $970,000 and invest more than $4.25 million in new pollution controls and $6.5 million in operating costs to resolve alleged violations of air, Superfund and community right-to-know laws.
The alleged violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, aka “Superfund”), and Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act (EPCRA) will see CRRM install new and upgraded pollution controls, more stringent emission limits and more aggressive leak-detection and repair practices to reduce emissions from refinery equipment and process units.
The settlement will benefit the environment and human health by reducing emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx), two pollutants emitted from refineries that can cause health problems and are significant contributors to acid rain, smog and haze.
The agreement requires CRRM to perform a voluntary environmental project at the refinery valued at more than $1.2 million, which will benefit the environment and surrounding communities by reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds and hydrogen sulfide, reducing the frequency of future acid gas flaring incidents, and conserve 15 million gallons of water each year that would previously have come from the Verdigris River.
The settlement with CRRM is the 30th under an EPA initiative to improve compliance among petroleum refiners and to reduce significant amounts of air pollution from refineries nationwide through comprehensive, company-wide settlements.
The first of EPA’s settlements was reached in 2000, and with today’s settlement, 107 refineries operating in 32 states and territories – more than 90 percent of the total refining capacity in the United States – are under judicially enforceable agreements to significantly reduce emissions of pollutants.
Defendant: Coffeyville Resources Refining & Marketing
Criminal Charges: Alleged violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, aka “Superfund”), and Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act (EPCRA)
City and State: Coffeyville, Kansas
Exact Date: Not specified
Sentence or Outcome: Agreed to pay $970,000 penalty and invest $10.75 million in pollution controls and operating costs
Dollar Amounts: $970,000 civil penalty, $4.25 million in new pollution controls, $6.5 million in operating costs, and over $1.2 million voluntary environmental project
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →