LIMA — The Lima Refining Company has agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice resolving Clean Air Act violations at its refinery in Lima, Ohio, the agencies announced September 27.
Under the deal, the company will pay a $19 million civil penalty and carry out an estimated $150 million in capital improvements, including control technology expected to cut benzene emissions by about 4.34 tons per year, other hazardous air pollutants by 16.26 tons per year, and volatile organic compounds by 219 tons per year.
The Lima Refinery is a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian-based Cenovus Energy. Federal officials said the facility unlawfully exposed the surrounding community to toxic benzene emissions and other hazardous pollutants. The refinery sits in a neighborhood federal officials described as having environmental justice concerns.
“Lima Refining unlawfully exposed the surrounding community to toxic benzene emissions and other hazardous pollutants,” said David Uhlmann, assistant administrator of the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. He said the settlement shows how fenceline monitoring can help protect overburdened communities near oil and gas facilities.
The case grew out of benzene fenceline monitoring that flagged persistent pollution problems at the site. The settlement requires the company to correct the deficiencies that led to the violations and install the new controls on a court-ordered schedule.
Officials said the $150 million in emissions controls will bring cleaner air and healthier water to a community that federal regulators said had been breathing unlawful levels of toxic pollution.
The agreement still needs final approval by a federal court. Once in place, EPA officials said the agency will oversee the refinery’s compliance with the new monitoring and control requirements.