 Energy & Environment |
Energy & Environment |
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IG says refineries emitted excess benzene amid insufficient EPA action |
Oil refineries have been releasing unsafe levels of cancer-causing benzene, says a new report calling for more action from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). |
© AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais |
The EPA's office of the inspector general said this week that out of 25 refineries that had an instance of excess benzene levels, 18 later emitted the chemical at unsafe levels. The report looked at a period from January 2018 to September 2021. It particularly pointed to refineries in Pennsylvania and Texas that emitted unsafe levels of benzene during 23 separate two-week sampling periods and 11 separate two-week sampling periods, respectively. Eric Schaeffer, former director of the EPA's Office of Civil Enforcement, described benzene emissions at this level as "posing a significant risk to people downwind." The watchdog report called on the EPA to "enhance oversight" of the refineries and said that the oversight that was being provided "has not always been sufficient." The EPA has classified benzene — which can come from burning coal and oil— as a known human carcinogen. Read more in a full report at TheHill.com. |
Welcome to The Hill's Energy & Environment newsletter, we're Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains. |
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How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future: |
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Local Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) staff failed to properly alert national-level colleagues to lead contamination in the water in a Michigan city, an internal watchdog said Thursday. |
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| Two Colorado legislators are demanding a full environmental review of a proposal to expand a Utah oil transport facility — plans they believe could endanger their state's residents across the border. |
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Former President Trump’s campaign aimed its ire at the Biden administration’s plans to push for more Americans to use electric vehicles Thursday. |
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Branch out with a different read on The Hill: |
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An interorganizational team of scientists has identified "opportunity hot spots" across the U.S. West where forest managers could target their efforts to mitigate the risk of wildfire-related carbon … |
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News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: |
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Texas just got closer to blackouts than it has since 2021. What happened? (NPR) Sources: Manchin backs FERC energy analyst for commission seat (E&E News) Toyota's Dominance Threatened By Rise of Electric Vehicles (The New York Times)
Heat's hidden risk (The Washington Post)
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Two key stories on The Hill right now: |
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Fulton County, Ga., District Attorney Fani Willis (D) penned a scathing letter to House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) after he asked her to turn over all documents related to her prosecution of former President Trump and 18 others on charges related to election interference. Read more |
| A new poll from CNN is providing bad news for the White House and President Biden, who scores just a 39 percent approval rating a little more than a year before Election Day. Read more |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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