On Oct. 12, 2005, Exxon Mobil Corp., the U.S. Justice Department and the EPA reached a settlement on the issue of air pollution. At a cost of $571 million, Exxon Mobil will cut yearly emissions by more than 53,000 tons at seven refineries. The company will also pay a civil penalty fine of $8.7 million.
The refineries include the nation's two largest, -- Baytown, Texas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Other affected refineries are located in Texas, Louisiana, California and Illinois. Together these refineries represent 11% of U.S. refining capacity according to the government.
According to wire reports, nitrogen oxide will be reduced by nearly 11,000 tons per year and sulfur dioxide by more than 42,000 tons per year. Exxon Mobil has also agreed to upgrade its leak detection and repair practices, minimize flaring of hazardous gases, reduce emissions from its sulfur recovery plants and adopt strategies to ensure the proper handling of hazardous benzene wastes at each refinery, according to the reports.
As part of the settlement, Exxon Mobil will also invest $9.7 million in community environmental projects.
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