Upcoming maintenance at Pasadena Refining Systems could release massive quantities of air pollution.
Plant officials informed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that the first few days of an estimated 50 day turnaround could result in the release of a ton of fine particulate matter, on top of nearly as much sulfur dioxide.
An estimated 15 tons of particulate matter were already released recently following repairs to the plant’s fluid catalytic cracking unit.
Pasadena Refining Systems is owned by Petrobras, the state-owned Brazilian oil company. The plant has a history of major pollution, compliance issues and accidents.
The maintenance will bring about 1,000 contractors to the plant, and Petrobras officials say the company developed plans to help reduce heavy vehicle traffic near the Washburn Tunnel. They did not address the potential effect on air quality that the operation will have.
The current maintenance may represent an effort to prepare the plant for sale.
Source: Chron.com “More air pollution expected to be released from Pasadena refinery,” by Kim McGuire, Thursday, January 12, 2017