Flint Hills Resources Alternative Means of Emission Limitation
EPA is providing public notice and soliciting comment on the alternative means of emission limitation (AMEL) request for Leak Detection and Repair provisions in the Standards of Performance and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry (SOCMI) and the Petroleum Refining Industry (40 CFR Section 60 Subparts VV, VVa, GGG, GGGa, and Section 63 Subparts H and CC.) This AMEL would apply to two process units (Mid-crude and Meta-Xylene) located at the West Refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas that is owned and operated by Flint Hills Resources LLC. Based upon review of the AMEL request, EPA believes that, by complying with the proposed AMEL, these process units will achieve emission reductions at least equivalent to the emissions reduction required by the applicable leak detection and repair standards.
Continuous monitoring has the potential to catch leaks, especially large ones, much faster than the current practice of monitoring periodically. This potential reduction in large leaks alone would likely lead to cleaner air for communities that live and work near these sites.
EPA will accept comment for 45 days after this notice is published in the Federal Register.