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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as entered into a Clean Air Act settlement where Calumet Montana Refining will pay a $385,000 penalty and address violations of Risk Management Program (RMP) requirements at its petroleum refining facility in Great Falls, Montana.
“Facilities must properly handle hazardous substances to prevent dangerous chemical accidents and follow reporting requirements when releases occur,” said Suzanne Bohan, director of EPA Region 8’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “If they don’t, EPA will hold them accountable. We are pleased that Calumet Montana Refining is implementing critical safety measures to protect workers and the community.”
The settlement, filed as a Consent Agreement on 12 December 2023, resulted from a 2019 EPA inspection at the Calumet facility that revealed several violations related to the management of flammable mixtures and hydrofluoric acid. “Deficiencies” were found with process safety information, hazard analysis, mechanical integrity and operating procedures. The company has been cooperative in correcting all identified deficiencies to reduce the possibility of an accidental release, EPA said.
The case is part of EPA’s National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative to reduce risks from chemical accidents. It addresses compliance within the petroleum refining industry sector, which can pose serious risks from such accidents.
Following recommendations made by the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board in April 2019, EPA is persistent on ensuring compliance with the RMP at petroleum refining facilities that store and process hydrofluoric acid.
The Calumet facility is subject to Clean Air Act RMP regulations because it stores and processes large quantities of flammable mixtures and hydrofluoric acid, a highly toxic substance that may cause severe injury, burns or death when released into air. The RMP rule requires facilities holding more than 10,000 pounds of flammable mixture or 1000 pounds of hydrofluoric acid to develop a RMP and submit that plan to EPA.
RMPs cover the proper design and maintenance of equipment such as pipes and vessels, emergency preparedness and the ability to minimize releases that may occur. They provide indispensable information to local fire, police and emergency response personnel to prepare for and respond to chemical emergencies.
“Making these plans available to the public also fosters communication and awareness to improve accident prevention and emergency response practices at the local level,” EPA said.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
EPA Fines Calumet Montana Refining for Chemical Abuses
Click for more Clean Air.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as entered into a Clean Air Act settlement where Calumet Montana Refining will pay a $385,000 penalty and address violations of Risk Management Program (RMP) requirements at its petroleum refining facility in Great Falls, Montana.
“Facilities must properly handle hazardous substances to prevent dangerous chemical accidents and follow reporting requirements when releases occur,” said Suzanne Bohan, director of EPA Region 8’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “If they don’t, EPA will hold them accountable. We are pleased that Calumet Montana Refining is implementing critical safety measures to protect workers and the community.”
The settlement, filed as a Consent Agreement on 12 December 2023, resulted from a 2019 EPA inspection at the Calumet facility that revealed several violations related to the management of flammable mixtures and hydrofluoric acid. “Deficiencies” were found with process safety information, hazard analysis, mechanical integrity and operating procedures. The company has been cooperative in correcting all identified deficiencies to reduce the possibility of an accidental release, EPA said.
The case is part of EPA’s National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative to reduce risks from chemical accidents. It addresses compliance within the petroleum refining industry sector, which can pose serious risks from such accidents.
Following recommendations made by the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board in April 2019, EPA is persistent on ensuring compliance with the RMP at petroleum refining facilities that store and process hydrofluoric acid.
The Calumet facility is subject to Clean Air Act RMP regulations because it stores and processes large quantities of flammable mixtures and hydrofluoric acid, a highly toxic substance that may cause severe injury, burns or death when released into air. The RMP rule requires facilities holding more than 10,000 pounds of flammable mixture or 1000 pounds of hydrofluoric acid to develop a RMP and submit that plan to EPA.
RMPs cover the proper design and maintenance of equipment such as pipes and vessels, emergency preparedness and the ability to minimize releases that may occur. They provide indispensable information to local fire, police and emergency response personnel to prepare for and respond to chemical emergencies.
“Making these plans available to the public also fosters communication and awareness to improve accident prevention and emergency response practices at the local level,” EPA said.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.