Murphy Oil USA has reached a settlement with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the US Justice Department by agreeing to pay a $1.25m civil penalty to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act at its petroleum refineries in Meraux, Louisiana and Superior, Wisconsin.
The settlement agreement also requires the company to spend more than $142m to install new and upgraded pollution reduction equipment at the refineries to reduce emission and spend an additional $1.5m on a supplemental environmental project.
By implementing new air pollution control technologies and other measures at both the refineries, the company hopes to cut sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by nearly 1,400 tons per year in addition to reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter and CO.
Additionally, Murphy will install covers on two wastewater tanks at the Meraux refinery to reduce odors and control VOC emissions and also install and operate an air monitoring station in the community adjacent to the Meraux refinery to track emissions.
EPA assistant administrator of office of enforcement and compliance assurance, Cynthia Giles said that EPA is committed to reducing toxic air pollution from sources that have an impact on the health of communities.
“This settlement, which is the result of cooperative efforts by the state and federal officials in both states, is good news for the residents of communities living near these refineries, who will be able to breathe easier knowing that the air in their communities will be cleaner,” Giles said.