EPA v. EQUISTAR LYONDELL CHEMICALS

Case summary

The settlement requires the companies to install and operate air pollution control and monitoring technology to reduce flaring and the resulting harmful air pollution from 21 flares at the six facilities. Once fully implemented, the pollution controls are estimated to reduce emissions of climate-change-causing greenhouse gases by almost 92,000 tons per year. The settlement is also expected to reduce emissions of ozone-forming VOCs by almost 2,700 tons per year and of toxic air pollutants, including benzene, by nearly 400 tons per year. Lyondell will also perform air quality monitoring that is designed to detect the presence of benzene at the fence lines of the six covered plants and pay a civil penalty of $3.4 million.

Defendants (2)

• LYONDELL CHEMICALSNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• EQUISTAR CHEMICALSNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (18)

• EQUISTAR CHEMICALS LA PORTE COMPLEX

  1515 MILLER CUT OFF RD, LA PORTE, TX, 77571

  Registry ID: 110034641635

• EQUISTAR CHEMICALS LP

  3400 ANAMOSA RD (HWY 30 W), CLINTON, IA, 52732

  Registry ID: 110012169517

• EQUISTAR CHEMICALS

  1501 MCKINZIE RD, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, 78410

  Registry ID: 110000465069

• EQUISTAR CHEMICALS LP

  3400 ANAMOSA RD (HWY 30 W), CLINTON, IA, 52732

  Registry ID: 110012169517

• EQUISTAR CHEMICALS

  1501 MCKINZIE RD, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, 78410

  Registry ID: 110000465069

• EQUISTAR CHEMICALS LP

  3400 ANAMOSA RD (HWY 30 W), CLINTON, IA, 52732

  Registry ID: 110012169517

• LYONDELL CHEMICAL CHANNELVIEW

  2502 SHELDON RD, CHANNELVIEW, TX, 77530-2681

  Registry ID: 110000463221

• EQUISTAR CHEMICALS LP

  3400 ANAMOSA RD (HWY 30 W), CLINTON, IA, 52732

  Registry ID: 110012169517

• EQUISTAR CHEMICALS LP

  3400 ANAMOSA RD (HWY 30 W), CLINTON, IA, 52732

  Registry ID: 110012169517

• EQUISTAR CHEMICALS LA PORTE COMPLEX

  1515 MILLER CUT OFF RD, LA PORTE, TX, 77571

  Registry ID: 110034641635

• EQUISTAR CHEMICALS LP

  3400 ANAMOSA RD (HWY 30 W), CLINTON, IA, 52732

  Registry ID: 110012169517

• EQUISTAR CHEMICALS

  1501 MCKINZIE RD, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, 78410

  Registry ID: 110000465069

• EQUISTAR CHEMICALS LP

  3400 ANAMOSA RD (HWY 30 W), CLINTON, IA, 52732

  Registry ID: 110012169517

• EQUISTAR CHEMICALS LP

  3400 ANAMOSA RD (HWY 30 W), CLINTON, IA, 52732

  Registry ID: 110012169517

• EQUISTAR CHEMICALS LP

  3400 ANAMOSA RD (HWY 30 W), CLINTON, IA, 52732

  Registry ID: 110012169517

• …and 3 more

Statutes cited

• CAA 112 — Hazardous Air Pollutants
• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• EQUISTAR LYONDELL CHEMICALSentered 2021-10-13

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $3,400,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 2016-12-19Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2021-10-13Final Order Lodged
• 2021-10-13Complaint Filed With Court
• 2021-10-13Final Order Entered
• 2022-03-07Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2025-05-19Air Resolved
• 2025-05-19Enforcement Action Closed