Valero Port Arthur Refinery Photo taken Wednesday, 1/30/19
Valero Port Arthur Refinery Photo taken Wednesday, 1/30/19
Photo: Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise
Environmental groups announce intent to file suit over SETX refinery's emissions
A group of Southeast Texas residents and climate activists are gearing up to sue Valero Energy Corporation and the Premcor Refining Group, Inc. for what they're calling violations of the Clean Air Act by the companies' Port Arthur Refinery.
The group alleges hundreds of violations of limits on sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter and other emissions as well as dozens of violations related to improper operation of the refinery's industrial flares, according to a news release from the group.
The lawsuit is expected to come within 60 days of May 16 -- when group members filed a "notice of intent to sue" the companies.
It would be the fifth case filed by Environment Texas and Sierra Club since 2008 to fight what the groups characterize as "illegal air emissions" from oil refineries in the area.
The group says Valero's Port Arthur Refinery released more than 1.8 million pounds of unauthorized pollution during 80 publicly reported emissions events and more than 200 smaller "mission events" since 2014 -- all of which are covered in the lawsuit.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, about 36,000 people live in a three-mile radius of the refinery, including five schools, two community centers, four public parks and more than 20 churches.
The Clean Air Act allows for private citizens affected by emissions violations to bring an enforcement suit in federal court after providing 60 days notice to the violator and state and federal environmental agencies.