EPA Notifies BP of Major Clean-Air Violations

CHICAGO, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency Region 5 today notified BP Products North America Inc. of allegedviolations of multiple Clean Air Act requirements at its Whiting, Ind.,refinery.EPA alleged that the BP Whiting refinery, located at 2815 Indianapolis Blvd:

-- failed to obtain a permit when it made major modifications to its fluidized-- failed to obtain a permit when it made major modifications to its fluidizedcatalytic cracking unit. The unpermitted modification caused significantincreases of nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter

(PM10), and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions.

-- violated New Source Performance Standards by modifying flares without-- violated New Source Performance Standards by modifying flares withoutcomplying with requirements, exceeding SO2 emission limits, and failing tomonitor emissions from several sources. The NSPS are national emissionstandards for new and modified industrial facilities that contributesignificantly to air pollution.

-- failed to conduct timely performance tests of hydrogen chloride emissions-- failed to conduct timely performance tests of hydrogen chloride emissionsfrom its catalytic reforming units. BP has 10 days to request a conference to discuss the violations.SOURCE U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyKaren Thompson of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, +1-312-353-8547,thompson.karen@epa.gov