(AGENPARL) – lun 13 novembre 2023 Issued: Nov 13, 2023 (11:19am EST)
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EPA Settlement Requires Action be Taken to Prevent Leaks, Secures Nearly
$300,000 Penalty to Settle Alleged Clean Air Act Violations at Peerless Oil
and Chemicals Inc. in Puerto Rico
NEW YORK (November 13, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has reached a settlement with Peerless Oil and Chemicals Inc for alleged
violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) at its Peñuelas, Puerto Rico facility.
The settlement requires Peerless to inspect its gasoline storage tanks and
monitor for potential emissions of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) using an
infrared camera for the next 12 months. In addition, Peerless must pay
$287,756 in penalties.
“The settlement requires the company to regularly monitor for and stop the
release of any major hazardous air pollutants, protecting communities near
this facility,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “Residents
will breathe cleaner air as a result of the upgrades and long-term monitoring
that were done at this facility under this settlement.”
During inspections in 2018 and 2019, EPA found that Peerless had violated the
CAA by not controlling HAPs from its petroleum storage and loading terminal in
Peñuelas, Puerto Rico. EPA detected elevated levels of HAPs and other harmful
gases called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at the facility and identified
problems with pollution control equipment for gasoline storage tanks such as
faulty seals and seal gaps, and problems with the operation of the flare at
the gasoline truck loading station.
In response to the EPA’s investigation, Peerless did extensive maintenance
and repair work to upgrade its gasoline truck loading station flare and ensure
compliance with emission control requirements for its internal floating roof
and external floating roof gasoline storage tanks.
As part of the investigation, Peerless purchased a specialized infrared (IR)
camera and a tablet capable of converting camera observations into parts per
million (ppm) concentration values. The IR camera will be used as a screening
tool to identify leaking components at storage tanks, enabling prompt
corrective action and compliance with applicable regulations.
The settlement includes innovative approaches, such as requiring Peerless to
conduct monthly tank inspections with the IR camera for a 12-month period,
taking corrective action if any emissions are observed.
Peerless has developed a Standard Operating Procedure for operating the IR
camera, a tank inspection checklist for camera operators, and has trained
additional employees to use the IR camera.  Peerless agreed to pay a civil
penalty and inspect its gasoline storage tanks monthly using an infrared (IR)
camera to ensure compliance and prevent future emissions.