ENV-09-39 Flare Emission Reduction Initiative – Balancing Community Expectation, Safety Practice, and Environmental Regulations

Description:

A flare is a safety device essential for safe operations of certain industrial processes. In recent years, the public has raised concerns regarding flare emissions and their impact on public health. Environmental groups have advocated for more stringent regulations on flare operations at refineries. The two largest air pollution control agencies in California, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) responded to the public concerns by adopting stringent regulations aiming to minimize flare emissions. In addition, EPA has promulgated new federal standards for flare operations that will soon become effective. Increased public awareness and more stringent regulations make operating a refinery in a heavily populated area a major challenge. The Tesoro Los Angeles Refinery launched a Flare Emission Reduction Initiative in response to this challenge by soliciting community participation and instituting new operational procedures that align with the environmental goals. The new operational procedures are designed to reduce flare gas production during normal operation, startup, shutdown, routine maintenance, and turnaround maintenance. As a result, the volume of gas vented to the refinery flares were reduced by more than 75%, and the SO2 emissions from the flares were reduced by more than 80% over the past seven years. Through the Flare Emission Reduction Initiative, the Tesoro Los Angeles Refinery worked with the communities to achieve significant reductions in flaring without compromising its safety standards.