EPA v. VALERO REFINING COMPANY (LEAD) (National Case)

Case summary

1. SECTION 113 OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT ( CAA ), 42 U.S.C. SECTION 7413. 2. VALERO REFINING COMPANY LOOP 197 SOUTH & 14TH STREET TEXAS CITY, GALVESTON COUNTY, TEXAS 77590 3. RESPONDENT WAS IN VIOLATION OF SECTIONS 110, 111 AND 112 OF THE CWA BY: 1) FAILURE TO KEEP A RECORD THAT SHOWED DIFFICULT-TO-MONITOR VALVES WERE MONITORED FOR 2 YEARS AND TO PROVIDE SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS FOR DIFFICULT-TO-MONITOR VALVES; 2) FAILURE TO KEEP A RECORD OF MONITORING; 3) FAILURE TO PERFORM DAILY CALIBRATIONS OF INSTRUMENTS; 4) FAILURE TO PERFORM DAILY CALIBRATION OF MONITORING ANALYZER; 5) FAILURE TO SUBMIT THE NOTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE STATUS REPORT BY THE FEB. 26, 2000 CUT-OFF DATE AND TO PROVIDE AN INITIAL NOTIFICATION OF STARTUP DUE OCT. 29, 1996; 6) INCORRECTLY REPORTING ITS ANNUAL BENZENE (TAB) QUANTITY FROM FACILITY WASTE BY FAILING TO TEST BENZENE STREAMS AT THE POINT OF GENERATION; 7) FAILURE TO REPORT THE TOTAL BENZENE CONCENTRATION RANGE AND ANNUAL FLOW- WEIGHTED BENZENE CONCENTRATION BY WEIGHT IN ITS ANNUAL REPORT; 8) FAILURE TO PROPERLY MEASURE AND INCLUDE BENZENE FROM OFF-SITE WASTEWATER FLOW IN ITS ANNUAL TAB; AND 9-27) EXCEEDING THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE PERMITTED EMISSIONS LIMITS ON 19 OF ITS PERMITS. 4. RELIEF SOUGHT PURSUANT TO SECTION 113 OF THE CAA, EPA SUBMITTED A DIRECT REFERRAL TO DOJ REQUESTING DOJ TO INITIALIZE A CIVIL ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST VALERO RE- FINING CO. IN TEXAS CITY, TEXAS. EPA IS SEEKING A PROPOSED CIVIL PENALTY OF $9,441,000 FOR THE ALLEGED VIOLATIONS. Amended Referral 3/27/2003 to add 3 facilities Amended Referral 9/27/2002 to add 1 facility (Orion)

Defendants (3)

• VALERO REFINING COMPANYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• Diamond Shamrock RefiningNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• OrionNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (17)

• VALERO THREE RIVERS REFINERY

  ON 301 LEROY ST, THREE RIVERS, TX, 78071

  Registry ID: 110000464462

• VALERO HOUSTON REFINERY

  9701 MANCHESTER ST, HOUSTON, TX, 77012

  Registry ID: 110000460885

• VALERO CORPUS CHRISTI REFINERY WEST PLANT

  5900 UP RIVER RD, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, 78407

  Registry ID: 110064636032

• VALERO REFINING CO - OKLAHOMA / VALERO ARDMORE REFINERY

  ONE VALERO WAY, ARDMORE, OK, 73401

  Registry ID: 110000606746

• VALERO REFINING COMPANY

  LOOP 197 S & 14TH ST, TEXAS CITY, TX, 77590

  Registry ID: 110032911669

• VALERO ST CHAS REF

  15292 RIVER RD, NEW SARPY, LA, 70078

  Registry ID: 110000448659

• VALERO ST CHAS REF

  15292 RIVER RD, NEW SARPY, LA, 70078

  Registry ID: 110000448659

• VALERO CORPUS CHRISTI REFINERY WEST PLANT

  5900 UP RIVER RD, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, 78407

  Registry ID: 110064636032

• VALERO CORPUS CHRISTI REFINERY WEST PLANT

  5900 UP RIVER RD, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, 78407

  Registry ID: 110064636032

• THREE RIVERS REFINERY

  301 LEROY ST., THREE RIVERS, TX, 78071

  Registry ID: 110000464462

• ALON REFINING KROTZ SPRINGS INC

  356 S LEVEE RD HWY 105, KROTZ SPRINGS, LA, 70750

  Registry ID: 110041023807

• VALERO CORPUS CHRISTI REFINERY WEST PLANT

  5900 UP RIVER RD, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, 78407

  Registry ID: 110064636032

• VALERO REFINING COMPANY

  LOOP 197 S & 14TH ST, TEXAS CITY, TX, 77590

  Registry ID: 110032911669

• VALERO MCKEE REFINERY

  6701 FM 119, SUNRAY, TX, 79086

  Registry ID: 110000465719

• VALERO REFINING TEXAS CITY REFINERY

  1301 LOOP 197 S, TEXAS CITY, TX, 77590

  Registry ID: 110032911669

• …and 2 more

Statutes cited

• CAA 112 — Hazardous Air Pollutants
• CAA 111 — New Source Performance Standards
• CAA 173 — New Source Review Permit Requirements
• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Valero Refining (LEAD) (National Case)entered 2005-11-23

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $2,092,308 · State/local: $1,500,000 · SEP: $3,000,000

Timeline (12 milestones)

• 2000-09-27Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2000-09-28Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2003-03-17Supplemental Referral-Other
• 2003-03-27Supplemental Referral-Other
• 2003-09-27Supplemental Referral-Other
• 2005-06-16Complaint Filed With Court
• 2005-06-16Final Order Lodged
• 2005-11-23Concluded
• 2005-11-23Final Order Entered
• 2017-12-18Demand for Stipulated Penalties
• 2018-01-29Enforcement Action Closed
• 2018-01-29Air Resolved