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EPA Finalizes Greenhouse Gas Permit for ONEOK Hydrocarbon; Permit allows $800M expansion of facility near Houston, will create 15-25 permanent jobs

Release Date: 06/20/2014
Contact Information: Joe Hubbard or Jennah Durant at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

“EPA will continue working with companies to ensure they have the permits they need,” said EPA Regional Administrator Ron Curry. “ONEOK and many other companies in Texas have shown that limiting GHG emissions makes good business sense.”

The permit allows the company to construct two new units at their Mont Belvieu facility, which is just east of Houston. The units will use a process called fractionation to process natural gas liquids into products such as propane and butane. The estimated project cost is $800 million. After the expansion is complete, the company will add 15 to 25 permanent jobs. EPA issued a previous GHG permit for this facility in July 2013.

In June 2010, EPA finalized national GHG regulations, which specify that beginning on January 2, 2011, projects that increase GHG emissions substantially will require an air permit.

EPA believes states are best equipped to run GHG air permitting programs. Texas is working to replace the federal implementation plan with its own State program, which will eliminate the need for businesses to seek air permits from EPA. This action will increase efficiency and allow industry to continue to grow in Texas.

EPA has finalized 44 GHG permits in Texas, proposed an additional seven permits, and currently has 19 additional GHG permit applications under review and permit development in Texas.

For all of the latest information on GHG permits in Texas please visit: https://yosemite.epa.gov/r6/Apermit.nsf/AirP

EPA is taking a variety of actions to cut Greenhouse Gas emissions and address the impacts of climate change. Most recently, EPA released a Clean Power Plan for existing power plants to cut carbon pollution by 30 percent below 2005 levels. Learn more about EPA’s actions at https://www.epa.gov/climatechange/.

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