EPA, Citgo strike deal to resolve Corpus refinery emissions violations

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an agreement Friday with the Citgo Refining and Chemicals Co. for emissions violations at the company’s facility in Corpus Christi, Texas. 

In addition to correcting violations and paying a civil penalty, the company will provide the local fire department with equipment to help improve their response to chemical releases.

“Keeping communities and workers safe is the highest priority for EPA’s enforcement program,” said Ron Curry, the EPA's regional administrator. “Companies have to be held accountable when they violate these important regulations.”

The agreement follows an unannounced inspection by EPA enforcement staff in June 2012, who acted on a tip from the Chemical Safety Board. The inspectors found violations in a range of areas, including equipment and controls, operation and auditing procedures, and initial and ongoing training. 

The agreement, achieved though EPA’s alternative dispute resolution process, requires Citgo to address and correct each violation. The company will also pay a civil penalty of $360,000.

The agreement also included a supplemental environmental project, or SEP, to benefit the Corpus Christi community. Citgo will provide over $117,000 in equipment to the Corpus Christi Fire Department to help quickly detect and identify suspected chemical leaks. This is an especially valuable resource for a community such as Corpus Christi, which has a high number of chemical and industrial facilities, according to EPA officials.