NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
June 18, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 287 For Immediate Release
For further information, contact Elena Tkacz, Coastal Zone Act Coordinator, 302-739-9909 or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
Premcor Receives Coastal Zone Permit for Pollution
Control Equipment at Valero Refinery in Delaware City
DOVER, Del. — Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary John A. Hughes has issued a Coastal Zone Act Permit to Premcor Refining Group, Inc. for the installation of pollution control equipment in the fluid catalytic cracking unit at the Valero Refinery in Delaware City, which will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.
Premcor Refining Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Valero Energy Corporation, submitted a pollution control permit application Jan. 2, 2008 for the addition of Wet Gas Scrubbing Plus technology downstream of the existing wet gas scrubber. A public hearing was held April 30, 2008 on the application.
The application for the permit was a result of a 2006 settlement reached by DNREC and Premcor of pending permit appeal and alleged violations and will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 512.5 tons per year at the refinery. The reduction of air emissions is used to offset the resulting 33 tons per year of nitrates added to their wastewater discharge. This pollution control project will not increase production or capacity at the refinery.
A 14-day appeal period follows the June 18, 2008 publication date of the legal notice. Anyone wishing to appeal this decision to the State Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board must do so before July 2, 2008. There is a $100 appeal application fee. If no appeal is received, this decision becomes final.
Under the Regulations Governing Delaware’s Coastal Zone, installation of pollution control equipment is exempted from obtaining a coastal zone permit only if the installation would not result in any negative environmental impact. A coastal zone permit is required for this project so that the potential negative impacts to the Delaware River would be properly offset.
For more information, please contact Elena Tkacz, Coastal Zone Act Coordinator, at 302-739-9909.
