Clean Air Act complicates refinery planning

Journal Article · Mon May 27 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Oil and Gas Journal; (United States)

OSTI ID:5979846

Scherr, R C; Smalley, Jr, G A; Norman, M E ^[1]

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1. ENSR Consulting and Engineering, Houston, TX (US)

The recently signed 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) will have a more significant impact on refinery operations and capital expenditures than any environmental legislation since the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) in 1976. This first of two articles looks at the effects of the CAAA on refinery planning, construction schedules, and market forces. The second, which will appear in a subsequent issue, will discuss the significance and interactions of the portions of the CAAA having the greatest impact on refining: nonattainment, air toxics, and permitting. Refining is more affected than any other industry because, in addition to complying with all other CAAA provisions, refiners will have to modify, design, permit, and construct new units to produce mandated reformulated fuels. New construction will be difficult, and in some areas impossible, to permit because 70% of U.S. refining capacity is located in areas out of compliance with federally mandated air quality standards for ozone.

• OSTI ID: 5979846
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States) Vol. 89:21; ISSN OIGJA; ISSN 0030-1388
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020400 -- Petroleum-- Processing
020700 -- Petroleum-- Economics
Industrial
& Business Aspects
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
021000 -- Petroleum-- Legislation & Regulations
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LAWS
PETROLEUM REFINERIES
POLLUTION LAWS
US CLEAN AIR ACT