A subsidiary of BP was penalized $40 million by the state of Indiana and the Environmental Protection Agency for violations of the Clean Air Act at its Whiting refinery.
BP Products North America Inc. also must invest in technology that will reduce benzene emissions by about 7 tons a year and other hazardous contaminants by about 28 tons a year, according to a press release. The cost of improvements is estimated at $197 million in the settlement announcement.
“This settlement sends an important message to the refining industry that the United States will take decisive action against illegal benzene and VOC emissions,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Under the settlement, the refinery will implement controls that will greatly improve air quality and reduce health impacts on the overburdened communities that surround the facility.”
BPP also agreed to a separate $5 million project that will reduce diesel emissions around the refinery. And it will install 10 air pollutant monitoring stations to gauge air quality beyond property fences.
The settlement terms are included in a proposed consent decree filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. A comment period will take place through June 23.
