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Tougher Petroleum Refinery Standards Proposed to Protect Air Quality

Release Date: 05/01/2007
Contact Information: John Millett, (202) 564-4355 / [email protected]

(5/1/07) EPA is proposing to reduce emissions from new, modified, or reconstructed process units at petroleum refineries. The proposed amendments would update the existing standards of performance for petroleum refineries. Under the proposal, new, modified or reconstructed units would be required to add emission controls that reflect demonstrated improvements in emission control technologies, in addition to changing certain work practices.

Over the next five years, the proposed standards are estimated to reduce the combined emissions of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide emissions by nearly 56,000 tons per year. The estimated benefits of the proposed rules would be more than $950 million, 17 times the expected costs. EPA will accept comments for 60 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register.

For more information on this action: epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t3/fact_sheets/petrefnspsprop_fs.html