EPA Orders HOVENSA to Improve Plans to Prevent Chemical Releases and Promptly Detect Problems (VI)
(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency has issued an order to HOVENSA L.L.C. in St.
Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands requiring the refinery to make numerous
improvements to its programs and plans that help prevent chemical
releases and provide prompt detection and response when incidents
and releases do occur. The company violated provisions of the
federal Clean Air Act related to the development of risk management
programs and the submission of risk management plans for facilities
that handle flammable and toxic chemicals.
Under the Clean Air Act, facilities that
manufacture, process, use, store or handle regulated flammable and
toxic chemicals above specified levels are required to develop risk
management programs and submit risk management plans. Facilities
are required to update and resubmit their risk management plans at
least once every five years.
"There have been too many chemical releases and
other potentially dangerous incidents at the HOVENSA facility in
recent years, including three since January 2011 alone,” said
EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. “Equipment at the
HOVENSA facility needs to be properly maintained and workers well
trained to protect people living nearby from exposure to dangerous
chemicals.”
EPA discovered the violations at HOVENSA’s
refinery in St. Croix during a January 2011 inspection. While
HOVENSA does have a risk management program and a plan in place, it
was found to be inadequate. Among the violations identified in the
order were: failure to maintain plant equipment; take steps to
identify problems before they occur; provide training to employees
on the control of hazards during operations; and ensure that
established operating procedures were being followed. EPA is
requiring HOVENSA to address these and other violations according
to a schedule laid out in the order.
For more information about Risk Management Plan
requirements visit: https://www.epa.gov/emergency-response
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/eparegion2.
11-119