### Testimony EPA's "Proposed Petroleum Refinery Sector Risk and Technology Review and New Source Performance Standards" Docket Number EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0682 

### Presented by Marcelo Norsworthy Research Analyst Environmental Defense Fund August 5, 2014 Public Hearing Galena Park, Texas My name is Marcelo Norsworthy and I am a Research Analyst with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a non-partisan environmental organization with more than 750,000 members nationwide. For overtwo decades, EDF has worked to secure cleaner air and cleaner water for communities and families in Texas. The proposed rule for petroleum refineries is vitally important in improving the public health of communities, ensuring that all families are protected from the hazardous air pollutants discharged from petrochemical refineries, and addressing long standing environmentaljustice burdens. Promoting Healthy Neighborhoods Oil refineries are a major source ofhazardous air pollutants that can cause lung disease, skin disorders, headaches, and immune system ailment, and otherhealth issues as well as increase the risk ofcancer. This proposal is critical to strengthening our nation's protections against these serious ailments. Ofparticular importance is the proposal to add fence line monitoring ofbenzene. The entire stakeholder community will benefit from a measure which improves understanding ofhow much ofthe cancer-causing compound is emitted at a facility. Neighbors especially have a strong and abiding right to know aboutthe toxic air pollutant discharges

- and to ensure safeguards are adopted to protect human health. Protecting Our Communities and Families The concentration ofhazardous air pollutant discharges from industrial facilities in Texas has serious impacts on human health and the environment. Forthe approximately 60,000 residents ofLaMarque, TX and Texas City, TX, three adjacent petroleum refineries have a total operating capacity of760,000 barrels ofcrude oil per dayi. That represents more than 4% ofdomestic capacity that is handled in this small community.Furtherup the coast at the three refineries near PortArthur, TX, the approximately 55,000 residents live in a communitythathouses more than 1.1 million barrels ofcrude oil operating capacityper day. Thatrepresents nearly 6.5% ofcapacity nationwide. Atthe same time, the Texas City area refineries reported emitting 118,558 pounds ofcancercausing benzene in 2012 _while the PortArthur refineries reported emitting 44,093 pounds of b • h II

enzene m t e same year . Fence line communities across Texas and the nation, such as here in Galena Park, face the disadvantage ofthe health risks associated with refinery emissions. These clean air standards are essential to protecttheirhealth. 

### Seize theMoment on EnvironmentalJustice AdministratorMcCarthy has made a steadfast commitment to pursuingEPA action on environmentaljustice. Strengthening and finalizing this refinery rule proposal is a tremendous opportunityto take action on that commitment and advance the agency's dedication to improve the health and environment ofoverburdened communities. EPA's own demographic analysis conducted for the rulemaking shows that more than halfof those most atrisk from refinery pollution are racial and ethnic minorities. The analysis also notes that people oflower incomes are over represented in communities near refineries compared to the national average. The health risks associated with refinery pollution are an environmental injustice and these communities have needed further environmental protections for many years. This proposal is an \ opportunity for EPA to seize the moment on environmentaljustice and afford fence line families the health protections they deserve. We look forward to EPA finalizing strong health-protective standards in the coming months. EDF will be submitting further technical comments on the proposal. Thankyou for the opportunityto testify here on the front lines ofthe environmental and public health concerns.

1U.S. Energy Information Administration. 2014 Refinery Capacity Data downloaded at< http

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" EPA. TRI Explorer. Accessed July 17, 2014. <http:lliaspub.epa.gov/triexplorer/tri_release.chemical>