EPA v. Equistar Victoria

Case summary

On July 28, 2016, EPA Region 6 issued a Consent Agreement and Final Order under its authority pursuant to sections 113(a)(3) and 113(d)(1)(B) of the Clean Air Act and section 112(r)(1) of the CAA, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 7412(r)(1),> to Equistar Chemical located at 2699 Old Bloomington Road North in Victoria, Texas. The CAFO was issued in response to a violation where on August 2, 2015 a release of 154,000 pounds of hexane was emitted to the Invista (adjacent facility to Respondent) cooling water system and released to atmosphere. The cause was due to two of 658 ?U? tubes from the LBC Tails Cooler failed due to fretting (wearing away) at the baffle hole contact point. The fretting was caused by water flow induced vibration which compromised the support of the tubes at the baffle holes due to corrosion of the carbon steel baffles. The CAFO requires Respondent to pay a civil penalty of $37,500 within 30 days.

Defendants (1)

• Equistar Chemicals, LPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• LYONDELL PETROCHEMICAL VICTORIA

  2699 OLD BLOOMINGTON RD N, VICTORIA, TX, 77905

  Registry ID: 110012498476

Statutes cited

• CAA 112[R][1] — Prevention of Accidental Release/General Duty Clause

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Equistar Victoriaentered 2016-07-28

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $37,500

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2016-07-28Final Order Issued
• 2016-07-28Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2016-09-01Enforcement Action Closed
• 2016-09-01Air Resolved
• 2016-09-01Enforcement Action Data Entered