EPA v. BP/AMOCO CORP (BLANCHARD REFINING)-TEXAS CITY-CAA CONSENT DECREE

Case summary

1. SECTION 113 OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT (CAA), 42 U.S.C. SECTION 7413. 2. BP/AMOCO CORP. - TEXAS CITY REFINERY 2401 5TH AVENUE S, TEXAS CITY, GALVESTON COUNTY, TEXAS, 77590 3. RESPONDENT WAS IN VIOLATION OF SECTIONS 112 AND 165 OF THE CAA BY VIOLATIONS INVOLVING REFINERY EXPANSION IN 1980-81, A REFORMER EXPANSION 1N 1980, AND INCREASES IN CAPACITY DURING 1988-91 AND 1997-99. 4. RELIEF SOUGHT PURSUANT TO SECTION 113 OF THE CAA. EPA SUBMITTED A DIRECT REFERRAL TO DOJ REQUESTING PROSECUTORIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CIVIL VIOLATIONS ACTIONABLE UNDER SECTION 113 OF THE CAA AGAINST THE RESPONDENT. EPA IS SEEKING CIVIL PENALTIES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. On November 4, 2013, the Court entered the Ninth Amendment to the Refinery Initiative Consent Decree in this matter. The Ninth Amendment transfers the Consent Decrees obligations for the Texas City Refinery from BP Products to Blanchard Refining Company LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum Company. Blanchard recently purchased the refinery. The Ninth Amendment requires Blanchard to perform approximately $190 million in corrective actions to fix Clean Air Act and RCRA violations that BP committed at the refinery before it was sold. BP must pay a penalty of $950,000. On April 1, the Court entered our modification of the Ninth Amendment to BPs 2001 refinery initiative consent decree. The modification extends several of the Ninth Amendments deadlines for completing work to upgrade the Texas City refinery wastewater treatment system. Blanchard (a subsidiary of Marathon) bought the refinery from BP in 2013 and agreed to undertake a variety of projects to fix historical RCRA and Clean Air Act NSPS QQQ compliance issues involving the wastewater treatment system. However, Blanchard encountered circumstances that it asserts amount to force majeure and, therefore, requested an extension of time.

Defendants (3)

• BP/AMOCO CORPORATIONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• Blanchard Refining Company LLCNamed in settlement
• BP Products North America, Inc.Named in settlement

Facilities (8)

• BP AMOCO CORP TEXAS CITY REFINERY

  2401 5TH AVE S, TEXAS CITY, TX, 77590

  Registry ID: 110059763536

• BLANCHARD REFINING GALVESTON BAY REFINERY

  2401 5TH AVE S, TEXAS CITY, TX, 77590

  Registry ID: 110059763536

• BLANCHARD REFINING GALVESTON BAY REFINERY

  2401 5TH AVE S, TEXAS CITY, TX, 77590

  Registry ID: 110059763536

• BP AMOCO CORP TEXAS CITY REFINERY

  2401 5TH AVE S, TEXAS CITY, TX, 77590

  Registry ID: 110059763536

• BP AMOCO CORP TEXAS CITY REFINERY

  2401 5TH AVE S, TEXAS CITY, TX, 77590

  Registry ID: 110059763536

• BP AMOCO CORP TEXAS CITY REFINERY

  2401 5TH AVE S, TEXAS CITY, TX, 77590

  Registry ID: 110059763536

• BLANCHARD REFINING GALVESTON BAY REFINERY

  2401 5TH AVE S, TEXAS CITY, TX, 77590

  Registry ID: 110059763536

• BLANCHARD REFINING GALVESTON BAY REFINERY

  2401 5TH AVE S, TEXAS CITY, TX, 77590

  Registry ID: 110059763536

Statutes cited

• CAA 112 — Hazardous Air Pollutants
• RCRA 3008H — Interim Status Corrective Action Order
• CAA 111 — New Source Performance Standards
• CAA 165 — Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)

Enforcement conclusions (3)

• BP/AMOCO CORP (BLANCHARD REFINING)-TEXAS CITY-CAA CONSENT DECREE-2013 AMENDentered 2013-11-04

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $950,000

• BP/AMOCO CORP (BLANCHARD REFINING)-TEXAS CITY-CAA CONSENT DECREE-2016 AMENDentered 2016-04-01

  Primary law: CAA

• BP/AMOCO CORP (BLANCHARD REFINING)-TEXAS CITY-CAA CONSENT DECREEentered 2001-08-29

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $2,500,000

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 2000-06-30Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2000-07-07Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2001-01-18Complaint Filed With Court
• 2013-05-23Supplemental Referral-Adding parties, counts
• 2016-04-01Final Order Entered
• 2016-04-01Final Order Lodged