WASHINGTON (May 1, 2007) - Total Petrochemical USA Inc. (Total) will pay a $2.9 million penalty and upgrade pollution controls at its Port Arthur, Texas refinery, to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act, the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.

• Geography
• Industry Capacity
• Emissions reductions
• Injunctive Relief
• Penalty
• Supplemental Environmental Project

Geography:

• One refinery, located in Port Arthur, Texas

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Industry Capacity:

• 232,000 barrels of oil per day.

• Approximately 1.5 percent of U.S. domestic refining capacity.

Emissions reductions:

• Nitrogen oxide (NO_x) reduced by more than 180 tons per year.

• Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) reduced by more than 800 tons per year.

• Carbon monoxide (CO) by more than 120 tons per year.

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Injunctive Relief:

• More than $37 million will be spent on injunctive relief through 2013.

• Guaranteed NO_x and SO₂ emission reductions.

• Implementation of extensive program to significantly reduce the number and severity of excess emissions from major flaring events.

• Enhanced procedures to reduce benzene emissions and volatile organic compound leaks from valves and other equipment at all facilities.

Penalty: $2.9 million

Supplemental Environmental Project: Commitment to use new infrared camera technology to detect leaks of volatile organic emissions from valves, piping and other equipment.

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For additional information, contact:

Patricia Welton
USEPA Region 6
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75202
(214) 665-7237
welton.patricia@epa.gov

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