US moves to tighten refinery emissions

01 May 2007 22:20  [Source: ICIS news]

WASHINGTON (ICIS news)--US environmental officials said on Tuesday they seek to impose emissions restrictions on new, modified or rebuilt process units at petroleum refineries, that could cost industry some $55m (€40m) annually.

The proposed rule changes would update existing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) restrictions on emissions from refinery modifications.

Under the proposed change, the agency said refiners will be required to add state-of-the-art emissions control equipment on new or updated facilities.

In addition, the proposed new rules would require refiners to change certain work practices.

The agency said the cost to industry was justified cost given the estimated environmental benefits of some $950m annually.

Over a five-year implementation period, EPA said the proposed changes would reduce the combined emissions of particulate matter, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by nearly 56,000 tonnes annually.

The standards for refinery process units would include emissions limits for fluid catalytic crackers, fluid coking units, delayed coking units, process heaters and other fuel gas combustion devices or sulphur recovery plants.

In addition to installation of current technology emissions control equipment, the rule would require refiners to generate and implement plans aimed at minimising emissions from refinery start-ups and shutdowns. Full details of the proposal can be obtained from the agency's Web site.

EPA will take public comment on the rule change for 60 days.

 

US refining industry officials were not immediately available to comment on the proposed rule change.

By: Joe Kamalick
+1 713 525 2653

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