"Refineries with adjusted benzene levels over 9 micrograms per cubic meter, measured at their fencelines and calculated on an annual rolling average every two weeks, are required to conduct root-cause analyses to determine the source of the benzene emissions and then take action to reduce the pollution."
“Requiring companies to publicly disclose their fenceline monitoring results and to find and fix benzene pollution sources appears to be working,” said Eric Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Environmental Integrity Project. “Although we and others are sometimes critical of EPA, this is an example of a success story of regulations working to helping to protect neighborhoods near refineries from a dangerous pollutant.”
This is a good first step, and hopefully all oil refineries make a commitment to maintain the lower benzene levels.
PBF Energy Chalmette has demonstrated Improved Benzene Levels in recent months, yet for its annual rolling average, PBF Energy Chalmette was 2nd highest in a national ranking by Environmental Integrity Project
The benzene level at PBF Energy's Chalmette refinery was over the "action level" from early 2019 to early 2021 , and, has been above the "action level" for the past two years, "with an adjusted annual average of 14.67 micrograms in December." According to the Environmental Integrity Project report, PBF Energy's oil refinery in Chalmette has the second highest average in 2023.
PBF Energy's refinery in Chalmette, St Bernard Parish Louisiana is within a 3-mile radius of over 58,700 people, 39% low income, and 60% minority. St Bernard is also non-attainment for the one-hour health standard for sulfur dioxide, and several areas of St Bernard Parish are exposed to a 95% to 99% national percentile diesel exhaust pollution (NATA diesel PM).
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (AIRC) is part of the World Health Organization (WHO). One of its major goals ts to identify causes of cancer. IARC classifies diesel engine exhaust as "Carcinogenic to humans." According to EPA, in addition to the lung cancer risk, there is a significant potential for non-cancer health effects as well, based on the contribution of diesel particulate matter to ambient levels of fine particles. Exposure to fine particles contributes to harmful respiratory and cardiovascular effects, and to to premature mortality.
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