Groups sue over refinery’s emissions
Two environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit this week against the owners of a Pasadena refinery alleging the facility consistently violates clean air laws.
The lawsuit, filed by attorneys representing Environment Texas and Sierra Club, alleges the Pasadena Refining System Inc. facility has routinely spewed unpermitted levels of soot, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and other air pollutants over the past five years.
The lawsuit is the fourth case filed by the two environmental groups against oil refineries and petrochemical facilities along the Houston Ship Channel since 2008.
“Repeated mechanical breakdowns and operator errors have plagued the Pasadena Refinery for years, and illegal releases of pollutionhave been allowed to re cur for far too long without being corrected,” said Neil Carman, clean air program director for Sierra Club’s Lone Star Chapter. “Even after receiving notice of our intent to file this lawsuit two months ago, the Pasadena Refinery has reported at least six more emission events that resulted in unauthorized air pollution into the surrounding communities.”
PRSI officials on Thursday said they were reviewing the lawsuit.
“We are committed to complying with all local, state and federal regulations and keeping our team’s focus on safe and reliable operations,” company officials said in a statement.
The 99-year-old refinery, just east of Houston, has been the source of several large releases of air pollutionand several high-profile accidents.
In January, repairs to the refinery’s fluid catalytic cracker unit caused the facility to release almost one ton of particulate matter. Particulate matter is a mix of microscopic particles and liquid drop lets that has been linked to a range of serious health problems, increased emergency room and hospital visits, decreased life expectancy and aggravated asthma.
Last July, a lightning strike caused the plant to emit 21 tons of potentially dangerous pollutants into the air and a shelter-in-place order was called for the Galena Park area. In March, a fire and explosion injured one worker. In 2011, the refinery had another fire.
“While we greatly appreciate the willingness of Pasadena Refining officials to sit down with us to begin discussing ways to resolve the longstanding problems at this facility, we believe this company needs to make a major new commitment to environmental compliance,” said Luke Metzger, director of Environment Texas.
The EPA has said that 75,000 people live within three miles of the plant. There are eight schools, a Head start program and several daycare centers nearby.
A Belgian company called Astra Transcor purchased the refinery for $42.5 million in January 2005 and later Petroleo Brasilero SA (Petrobras) became its partner. Petrobras later took over the refinery, spending more than $1.2 billion, includingits initial investment and a follow-up settlement, according to U.S. and Brazilian court records.