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Amendments Proposed to Air Emissions Regulations for Petroleum Refineries

Release Date: 12/12/2008
Contact Information: Cathy Milbourn, (202) 564-4355/7849 / milbourn.cathy@epa.gov

(Washington, D.C.- Dec. 12, 2008) The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking comments on a small number of technical amendments to the June 24, 2008, new source performance standards for petroleum refineries.

The proposed amendments would require refineries to monitor the amount of excess gas and sulfur to be burned off in a process known as flaring. If a refinery relies upon flaring more than expected, the facility would be required to take corrective action. These proposed amendments reflect additional data and information EPA received since issuing the current standards.

This proposal is in response to requests for reconsideration of the final standards. EPA will accept comments on the proposal for 45 days after publication in the Federal Register.

More information on the final rule and amendments is at: epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t1fs.html