EPA v. Alon USA

Case summary

This settlement resolves allegations that Alon USA, LP (Alon) produced and sold from its Big Spring Refinery six batches of gasoline (approximately 5 million gallons) that exceeded the 9.0 psi Reid vapor pressure (RVP) standard during the 2012 and 2013 summer ozone seasons (May 1 to September 15). Alon is a refiner that operates a 73,000 barrel-per-day capacity refinery located in Big Spring, Texas. The volatility regulations under the Clean Air Act aim to reduce emissions from fuel used in motor vehicles, nonroad vehicles and engines. In this case, non-compliance with the volatility standards resulted in additional emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the non-compliant gasoline. VOCs are a precursor to the formation of ground-level ozone (?smog?). Ground-level ozone causes a wide variety of health and environmental impacts, including temporary breathing difficulty for people with asthma, respiratory illness, and aggravation of existing heart disease. Under the settlement, Alon will pay a civil penalty of $372,611 to the US Treasury. For additional information see https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/alon-usa-lp-settlement.

Defendants (1)

• Alon USA, LPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• ALON USA

  12700 PARK CENTRAL DRIVE, SUITE 1600, DALLAS, TX, 75251

  Registry ID: 110070158667

Statutes cited

• CAA 211 — Regulation of Fuels - Motor Vehicle and Engine Fuels

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Alon USAentered 2018-01-25

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $372,611

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2018-01-22Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2018-01-25Final Order Issued
• 2018-01-29Enforcement Action Data Entered