Under a settlement agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, United Refining Co. will pay a $495,000 penalty for violating its air quality permit at the company’s petroleum refinery in Warren, Pa.
United was cited for frequently violating its permit emission limits, the most significant of these being the limit for sulfur dioxide. Continuous emission monitors at the facility indicated that United also exceeded emission limits for hydrogen sulfide and opacity from various sources.
The company additionally failed to submit required reports in a timely manner.
The violations date back to May 2007, but United has since taken corrective actions.
“In response to numerous emission violations, United has installed new equipment and software to improve its day-to-day emissions monitoring,” said DEP Regional Director Kelly Burch. “The company also is implementing a plan we have approved that will hold it to its reporting schedule.”
The $495,000 penalty will be paid into the state’s Clean Air Fund, which supports projects designed to improve air quality throughout the state.