API: EPA’s refinery rule is much improved but remains costly

According to the American Petroleum Institute (API) the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made substantial improvements in the final refinery sector rule over the proposal, but EPA’s new regulations on refineries could still cost up to US$1 billion.

“EPA analyses, supported by extensive industry monitoring data, show that air emissions from refineries are already at safe levels. The refinery industry has proven we can provide reliable American energy while protecting the environment and local communities, and collaborative efforts by API and the EPA led to final regulations that are more cost-effective than the proposal,” commented API Downstream Group Director, Bob Greco.

Refineries have been reducing emissions for decades under voluntary programs and in compliance with existing regulations. Through comments made during the rule making process, API identified and supported practical, cost-effective opportunities to even further reduce emissions in a manner that recognises the complexity of the industry, which EPA took into account.

“Despite these improvements, regulators need to be thoughtful about the additional impacts of new regulations and added costs to delivering affordable energy to US consumers,” said Greco. “Companies have already spent billions of dollars to reduce emissions by installing flare gas recovery and flare minimisation systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and air quality continues to improve as a result of these voluntary programs and existing regulations.”

Edited from press release by Angharad Lock

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/refining/30092015/api-epas-refinery-rule-is-much-improved-but-remains-costly-1509/