HF Sinclair Faces $35M Fine for New Mexico Air Pollution
Published Date: 1/24/2025
Notice
Summary
HF Sinclair Navajo Refining in New Mexico is facing a $35 million fine for breaking air pollution rules. They’ll also upgrade their refinery with new equipment to cut harmful emissions and protect public health. People have 30 days to share their thoughts on this plan before it’s final.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Refinery faces $35M civil penalty
HF Sinclair Navajo Refining, LLC agreed under a proposed consent decree to pay a $35,000,000 civil penalty (with $17,500,000 to the United States and $17,500,000 to the State of New Mexico). The proposed consent decree was lodged on January 17, 2025.
Refinery must install pollution-control upgrades
Under the proposed settlement, the Artesia, New Mexico refinery will install a flare gas recovery system, carry out wastewater and storage tank capital projects, and use enhanced equipment monitoring to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOC) and hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions. The complaint asserts these steps respond to alleged violations involving fenceline emissions, benzene waste, storage tanks, flaring, and equipment leaks.
Public comment period open for 30 days
The notice opens a public comment period: anyone may submit comments by email to [email protected] or by mail to Assistant Attorney General, U.S. DOJ--ENRD, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044-7611. All comments must be submitted no later than thirty (30) days after the publication date of this notice (publication date: January 24, 2025).
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