June 24, 2005— The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Justice have announced comprehensive Clean Air Act settlements with petroleum refiners Valero and Sunoco on June 16. The agreements are expected to reduce harmful air emissions by more than 44,000 tons per year from 18 refineries in eight states, including Colorado, Louisiana, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Oklahoma.
Valero and Sunoco, which together represent 15 percent of domestic refining capacity in the US, will be required to spend more than $700 million and $285 million, respectively, to install and implement innovative emission control technologies at their refineries.
The proposed consent decrees are subject to a 30-day public comment period. For more information on the Petroleum Refinery Initiative, the Valero settlement, or the Sunoco settlement, visit the EPA Web site.
