Controlling Pollution with Regulatory Action
quest.eb.com/search/132_1489470/1/132_1489470/cite. Accessed 1 Dec 2017.
One of the best ways to get oil companies to invest in sustainability is to implement regulations that control the amount of pollution that refineries can give off. According to the EPA article, “Petroleum Refinery Sector Risk and Technology Review and New Source Performance Standards (NSPS),” the EPA recently passed a law that increases regulations for toxic air pollutions from refineries. As the article later states, “this rule will result in a reduction of 5,200 tons per year of toxic air pollutants, and 50,000 tons per year of volatile organic compounds (VOC).” Stricter regulations such as this are the main driving force of sustainability. Relying on oil companies to voluntarily implement these new practices will not result in the kind of positive action that is needed.
One example of regulations resulting in positive action is the recent Tesoro Settlement. As described in the EPA article “Oil Refiners to Reduce Air Pollution at Six Refineries Under Settlement with EPA and Department of Justice” by Julia P. Valentine, Tesoro reached a $425 million settlement with the EPA and U.S. Department of Justice after violations of the Clean Air Act. This requires Tesoro to pay for new technological advancements to reduce emissions, local environmental projects, and imposes a civil penalty for violations. Though one of the main reasons to not implement new technology is the cost, there are also costs associated with not following the pollution standards. As stated in the article, the civil penalty Tesoro had to pay amounts to $10.45 million dollars. Tesoro could have obtained the proper levels of pollution and saved themselves money in the long run.
- United States Environmental Protection Agency. “Petroleum Refinery Sector Risk and Technology Review and New Source Performance Standards (NSPS).” EPA. United States Environmental Protection Agency, 19 Apr. 2017. Web. 22 Nov. 2017.
- Valentine, Julia P. “Oil Refiners to Reduce Air Pollution at Six Refineries under Settlement with EPA and Department of Justice.” EPA, 18 July 2016. Web. 17 Nov. 2017.
