At least 10 refineries showed levels of benzene that were above the government’s “action level” for the pollutant at their fence lines as of September of last year, a report has shown.
Oil refineries are required to monitor benzene concentrations around their fence line or perimeter and if their concentration exceeds the action level, they are required to “implement corrective measures”, The Hill reports.
The Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) examined the monitoring reports of more than 100 refineries and identified 10 whose fence line benzene levels were higher than the EPA’s “action level” as of the third quarter of 2019.
The report, published early Thursday, identified the 10 facilities, six of which were in Texas.
“Benzene can affect the human blood system and increase the risk of cancer. Benzene is classified as a known human carcinogen, with the potential to cause leukemia,” the report said.
The refinery found to have the highest benzene concentration level, Philadelphia Energy Solutions in Pennsylvania, had a benzene level that was 444 percent greater than the EPA’s action level, according to the report.
Other refineries identified as having some of the highest levels were the HollyFrontier Navajo Artesia in New Mexico and the Total Port Arthur Refinery in Texas. A spokesperson for Total told The Hill in an email that the refinery has a “robust monitoring system in place to assist us in identifying the source of an emission, investigating its cause and implementing corrective actions.”
“We are committed to complying with EPA rules. We take seriously our responsibility to reduce our environmental footprint,” the spokesperson added. “Our refinery employees live and have families in this community, and the Total Port Arthur Refinery works hard at being a good neighbor.”
“These results highlight refineries that need to do a better job of installing pollution controls and implementing safer workplace practices to reduce the leakage of this cancer-causing pollutant into local communities,” EIP Executive Director Eric Schaeffer said in a statement.
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