Federal Authorities Question Refinery Operators About Recent Fires on St. Croix

The Environmental Protection Agency is asking the owners of the former Limetree Bay Oil Refinery to answer questions contained in a formal Request for Information sent on Aug. 18. A notice sent by the head of the EPA Response and Prevention Branch includes a warning that full disclosure of the matter in question is required by federal law.

A spokesman for EPA Region 2 says the agency wants details about a pile of smoldering petroleum coke on the grounds of the refinery at Estate Hope on St. Croix. Response and Prevention Branch Chief Douglas Kodama said the agency wants to know how emissions from the smoldering coke affect air quality in and around the plant.

Environmental regulators say they are particularly concerned about a possible release of sulfur dioxide, a noxious gas.

“This letter seeks your cooperation in providing information and documents relating to an incident which occurred, and may still be occurring, at or from the One Estate Hope refinery facility located on St. Croix,” Kodama said. The notice was sent to a Florida-based law firm and a Washington, D.C. firm representing Port Hamilton Transportation and Refining, the new name for the former Limetree Bay Oil Refinery.