Ohio Refinery Agrees to Pay $19 Million to Settle Emissions Case

An Ohio petroleum refinery on Friday agreed to pay the Environmental Protection Agency $19 million to settle allegations that its benzene emissions violated the Clean Air Act.

The amount of benzene—a carcinogen that can cause respiratory and reproductive issues—at the Lima, Ohio, refinery exceeded what was allowed by New Source Performance Standards and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants under the CAA, the EPA alleged.

• In addition to the civil penalty, Lima Refining Co. agreed to comply with CAA regulations, such as ensuring all waste management units and treatment processes at the facility handle organic benzene waste according ...